Game #1
ART U Urban Knights (0-0) vs. Cal State Monterey Bay Otters (0-0)
Friday, November 11, 2022 at 3 p.m.
San Francisco – SF State - Main Gymnasium
Live Stats | Live Video

Game #2
ART U Urban Knights (0-0) vs. SF State Gators (0-0)
Saturday, November 12, 2022 at 5 p.m.
San Francisco – SF State - Main Gymnasium
Live Stats | Live Video

Coming off its first NCAA Division II Tournament appearance since 2016 and runner-up finish to the Pacific West Conference Tournament title last season, Academy of Art women's basketball prepares to brandish a bit of a different look in its 2022-23 campaign. Debuting Head Coach Lindsey Foster and her coaching staff are set to guide a strong core of returning Urban Knights as well as talented additions in the program's upcoming 15th year.

ART U opens its 2022-23 campaign locally in the SF State Gator Invitational against Cal State Monterey Bay (Nov. 11) and the host Gators (Nov. 12) before its second non-conference tournament, the CCAA/PacWest Challenge, features matchups with Cal State East Bay (Nov. 18) and host Stanislaus State (Nov. 19). Following a contest at NCAA Division I Pacific, the Urban Knights commence PacWest play in Southern California on Dec. 1 with Point Loma followed by Concordia (Dec. 3). A four-part homestand follows as Academy of Art wraps up non-conference action versus Sonoma State then hosts Chaminade (Dec. 10), Azusa Pacific (Dec. 17), and Biola (Dec. 19).

As the calendar turns, ART U will start five consecutive road games at Holy Names (Dec. 30) and Fresno Pacific (Jan. 2) then in Hawaii against Hawaii Pacific (Jan. 8), Chaminade (Jan. 10), and UH Hilo (Jan. 12). The Knights' second rounds with conference opponents begins a series of four home contests, rematching CUI (Jan. 19), PLNU (Jan. 21), HPU (Jan. 24), and UH Hilo (Jan. 29) to close out the month. Six February matchups include another trip south to face APU (Feb. 2) and BU (Feb. 4), hosting the PacWest's Northern California trio of Dominican (Feb. 11), HNU (Feb. 19), and FPU (Feb. 23), then one final pairing with DU on Feb. 25. Hosted by Chaminade this year, the PacWest Championship Tournament tips off in Honolulu Mar. 2-4. To view the 2022-23 schedule, click here!

Guard Lauryn Manns, the team's lone senior, was recognized with All-PacWest Third Team in 2021-22, last season and All-PacWest Northern California Team the year prior while working her way into the program's top 10 career scoring averages (10.8 points per game) heading into this final year. Top 25 in the conference in scoring and top 15 in steals per game during this past regular season, Manns delivered season-highs of 24 points in back-to-back games late in the schedule while ART U was battling for seeding in the PacWest Tournament.

New additions to the team, junior guards Ashana Hinds and Michaela Harris each bring previous experience from outside California. Hinds, a junior transfer from Colorado Northwestern Community College, was Second Team NJCAA as well as a two-time national champion in the United Kingdom while Harris,a junior transfer from Lower Colombia College in Washington, was First Team All-League and All-Tournament Team on her most recent squad.

Returning twin towers sophomore forward/centers Alisha Wilson and Christy Ojide are set to provide crucial scoring, rebounding, and defensive presence for the Urban Knights this year. Both already inside the program's top 10 in career blocks (both top three in PacWest in rejections per game in 2021-22), the pair logged significant minutes down the stretch of Academy of Art's postseason run with Wilson leading the conference in rebounding (10.3) and posting 14 double-doubles en route to earning All-PacWest Second Team and subsequently a spot on this year's Preseason All-PacWest Team. ART U's sophomore class will also be boosted by guard Jadence Clifton, a sophomore transfer from Cal Poly Humboldt, who exited her fourth year on varsity at Del Norte High School as the program's all-time leading scorer and 2021 McDonald's All-American nominee.

Looking to contribute right away, freshmen guards Kyla Wandick and Madison Johnson enjoyed successful careers alongside one another at Bakersfield High School. Wandick was a four-year varsity letter winner who in addition to being team captain and All-League Most Valuable Player, finished as a Second Team All-State recipient. Meanwhile, Johnson was a varsity letter winner in basketball for three years, in addition to competing on the Drillers' softball and volleyball teams, and added team captain plus Best Defensive Player honors to her resume.

Academy of Art's encore to a historic season begins this week as the Urban Knights tip off 2022-23 this Friday.