SAN FRANCISCO – Making a decisive move to start the second half, Academy of Art women's basketball scored nine straight points out of the break, never trailed in the final five minutes of regulation, and ultimately secured its sixth victory in 2024-25 by way of a 67-62 triumph over UC Merced.

"Incredibly proud of the team for staying committed to our standards today," said Head Coach Jesse Clark. "Our leadership characteristics were on full display as we made an intentional point at the half to attack through the strength of our team, which is our ability to get the ball to the layup area in a multitude of ways."

After being tied on four occasions through the opening quarter, the teams were separated by six points early in the second before a triple from redshirt freshman guard Karereatua Williams initiated a 7-0 burst that put ART U on top 20-19. The UCM margin never elevated past six points thanks to layups by sophomore guard Anna Fornells and senior forward/center Christy Ojide Boiko with the latter coming at the halftime buzzer.

The Bobcats' 30-26 advantage quickly evaporated in the second half as Ojide Boiko converted a three-point play then senior forward Yasmine Sifaoui delivered back-to-back baskets during the ensuing 9-0 run to give Academy of Art a 35-30 lead. UC Merced kept the game close for the rest of the third quarter, even tying it on free throws before Sifaoui struck again for a layup with five seconds left.

With the final lead of the contest coming with six and a half minutes remaining in regulation, UCM was hit by an 11-2 surge capped by consecutive buckets from Fornells. Four points was as close as the Bobcats would come down the stretch as the Knights held their opponent to their fourth straight quarter shooting under 32 percent from the field toward the 67-62 final. 

"I think that we've been putting in a lot of work on our lock left defense since the beginning of the season and it's starting to show up," Fornells said. "We are working together as a team and you can feel it in and off the court. It feels good to know that we all have each other's backs and we'll get a good defensive action every time."

Sporting a 6-1 record to start December, ART U logged its second-highest rebound total of the season (55) with 10 different players grabbing at least two apiece.

"Our rebounding is an intentional part of our overall scheme, so to force contested shots and finish those possessions with rebounds was key today," Clark said. "The fact that we had so many involved in this area speaks to executing to our defensive standards."

Sifaoui paced all players offensively with 18 points, her highest total since joining the program, on 7-for-10 shooting from the field while Fornells provided a season-best 13 points and three steals and Williams knocked down three 3-pointers as part of her season-high 12 points in 15 minutes. Ojide Boiko ended with 11 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks.

"For us as a team, we are just focused on us and staying together as a team no matter what competition is put in front of us," Fornells said. "We know our standards and that's what we have to focus from now on; do us and keep getting better every day."

Now 4-5 overall this season, UC Merced had four players score in double figures led by Sarina Nagar's 17 points.

Academy of Art will play its first Pacific West Conference game of the season this Thursday, Dec. 5 when the Urban Knights host Vanguard from SF State's Main Gym at 5 p.m.

"Very pleased with the success of our results and the growth of our process this preseason," Clark said. "Now with PacWest play here we will look to learn from both our successes and our challenges and apply them to our conference opener on Thursday."