OAKLAND, Calif. – Playing with renewed energy and hustle from the jump, Academy of Art women's basketball held a lead on Fresno Pacific all the way into the final two minutes of the third quarter. An 11-0 run by the Sunbirds propelled them into the fourth, however, and despite having a chance to tie the game with three seconds left, it was FPU who came away with the 69-63 Pacific West Conference victory inside Holy Names' Tobin Gymnasium on Saturday.

A basket by freshman guard Brooke Rodgers on ART U's first possession set the tone as she proceeded to go coast-to-coast a minute later then capped the Urban Knights' 12-4 start with a layup. Shooting 50 percent from the field in the opening quarter, built its lead to nine on multiple occasions, up 19-10 after free throws by redshirt freshman guard Kaila Murrell with two and a half minutes left.

Junior guard Lauryn Manns' jumper three minutes into the second quarter gave her squad a double-digit advantage, but a 7-0 response by the Sunbirds began to close the gap. Free throws came from Rodgers down the stretch as both teams shooting from the floor cooled off and it was a 32-29 lead for Academy of Art going into halftime.

Though the teams traded buckets to start the second half, a Murrell 3-pointer and free throws from freshman guard Alyssa Munn helped key an 8-0 push thereafter, getting ART U a 44-36 advantage. After a triple by junior guard Chanel Stuart with three and a half minutes to go, however, FPU rallied with the final 11 points of the period.

After a jumper by Munn opened the final quarter, the teams were never separated by more than five points until the very end. Manns and senior forward Megan Jefferson scored during the back-and-forth action that ensued then a 3-pointer by Munn cut the margin to three points with one minute and 14 seconds left in regulation. Following a missed basket by the Sunbirds, Academy of Art had an opportunity to tie with 21 seconds on the clock, but Stuart's triple rimmed out and free throws later sealed the 69-63 win for FPU.

Despite moving to 0-2 both overall and in conference action, three Urban Knights scored in double figures led by Manns' 17 points which were tied for the game-high. Rodgers collected ART U's first double-double of the year with 13 points and 10 rebounds while Munn added 11 points including a perfect day at the foul line (6-of-6). Murrell and Stuart each had nine points apiece as well.

The win puts Fresno Pacific at 4-3 overall and 4-0 in PacWest play after Rachel Berry posted 17 points, Bayli McClard added 14 points, and Breanna Hurt finished with a 10-point, 11-rebound double-double off the bench.

Academy of Art will face FPU twice more this coming week on Friday, Feb. 19 and Saturday, Feb. 20.