IRVINE, Calif. – Five different Urban Knights scored to lead a 23-6 comeback run that bridged the second and third quarters, but despite a four-point lead for Academy of Art women's basketball midway through the third, Concordia came back to shoot 50 percent from the field in the fourth en route to an 85-63 Pacific West Conference win inside its own CU Arena on Monday afternoon.

Beginning with both sides converting, the two teams combined to go 8-for-9 from the field in the opening four minutes as freshman guard Maddie Morrow put in five points while junior forward Yasmine Sifaoui and freshman guard Lucia Revenga added layups. A 10-0 run, however, ensued as the Golden Eagles built what would be a 27-16 lead after one quarter while the sides each shot 50 percent or higher.

The difference hovered around double digits as Morrow and sophomore guard Alba Rovira Ayuso knocked down 3-pointers then four points by Revenga plus a three-point play from graduate student guard Briana Baker-Bruce marked a 7-0 surge to end the half as nearly 54 percent shooting from the field by ART U helped them only trail by six at 41-35.

Momentum remained on the Academy of Art side out of halftime as five quick points by Rovira Ayuso cut the CUI lead to one before an 11-2 push followed highlighted by five more from Rovira Ayuso and contributions by Sifaoui, freshman guard Anna Fornells, and Baker-Bruce. Up 51-47, the Knights were met by a 14-3 finish to the third quarter, putting the home team in front 61-54.

Free throws by senior guard Ashana Hinds had the margin back down to three early in the final frame yet a 13-0 run thereafter separated the Golden Eagles for their eventual 85-63 victory.

"Really proud of the system improvement this afternoon by our group especially in the middle segments of the game," said Head Coach Jesse Clark. "Credit to CUI for getting the needed combination of offensive rebounds and a big shots to get their run started in the second half."

Academy of Art, moving to 2-8 overall and 1-3 in PacWest action, was led offensively by Rovira Ayuso for the second straight contest after she put in 17 points (on 7-for-14 shooting from the field) including three 3-pointers, four rebounds, and two blocks. Morrow and Revenga had nine points apiece while Baker-Bruce added eight points plus six rebounds. Fornells finished with six points and four assists and Sifaoui added eight points, five rebounds, and two blocks.

Now 4-6 on the year and 2-2 in conference play, Concordia relied on a game-high 24 points from Izzy Navarro with Stephanie Lee providing 19 points as the duo combined to knock down nine of CUI's 10 triples.

"We have had a lot of growth in this first third of the season and, while the lack of results are not what any of us are wanting, we are looking forward to coming back together after the new year for our next opportunity to perform," Clark said.

When Academy of Art returns to action it will be in the 2024 calendar year which begins with a Jan. 2 matchup hosting Hawaii Pacific from Kezar Pavilion at 1 p.m.