Box Score

POMONA, Calif. – Up by six with just under six minutes left to play, Academy of Art University nearly upset the #2 team in the country, Cal Poly Pomona, inside Kellogg Gym on Wednesday night. Both sides were tied 75-75 with 1:26 left, but missed opportunities at the foul line led to the Broncos' 82-77 victory despite a career-high-tying 28 points and 13 rebounds from junior Krystal Forthan.

"I told the team I was disappointed, not mad with this loss," head coach LaNay Larson said. "I felt like we actually took some big steps in the right direction and gave ourselves plenty of chances, but [Cal Poly Pomona] hit some huge shots and we missed a few down the stretch."

Both sides were efficient on the offensive end in the early going as junior Jasmin Guinn opened with a 3-pointer and, after a pair of layups by junior Regina Camera, Forthan knocked down a long range shot as well. It was a 12-10 ART U lead at the first break and the margin expanded to 13 via an 11-0 run on three 3-pointers (two from junior Sha'Nice Storey and one by junior Vianai Austin).

From that point, the Broncos roared back with an 8-0 run that included three consecutive jumpers from Mian Dingle. When the dust from both runs had settled, Forthan proceeded to score six straight and the halftime scoreboard favored Academy of Art 37-32.

More than a two-minute scoring drought on both sides was broken up by Camera finding Storey for another triple as the Knights once again grew their lead. However, an 8-0 surge by the Broncos not only tied the contest 40-40, but All-American Jada Blackwell added another free throw to give her squad its first advantage since 13:03 in the first half.

The game became a back-and-forth battle from that point on as both sides held brief leads. Forthan proceeded to knock down her second 3-pointer of the evening, Storey added free throws, and Camera put in a layup to get the visitors back up by six, 55-49, but CPP hung around. Six straight ART U points from Camera eventually had the Knights up by eight with 8:40 left though an 8-0 run by Ariel Marsh alone brought about a 63-63 score.

Forthan and Camera splashed home triples to go up six yet Lauren Goecke and Blackwell were key down the stretch as the teams once again found themselves knotted 72-72 with 2:39 to play. Energized by a three-point play from Forthan, the Knights briefly went up two, but Blackwell came back with a jumper and, from there, the Broncos would not relinquish a lead again.

Dingle hit a jumper with 42 seconds left and junior Zoie Sheng promptly drew a foul on the next ART U possession, but she split free throws and her team was forced to foul down by one, 77-76. Goecke made a pair and Academy of Art's chance to tie came on a Forthan 3-pointer attempt that did not fall. Forthan would soon get to the foul line though, but split free throws which eventually led to CPPP's 80-77 advantage. Forthan had one more try at a game-tying long ball, but it too missed and the Broncos went on to prevail 82-77.

"I thought our effort and discipline were much better," Coach Larson said. "If we continue to improve at this rate, the sky is the limit and we will be in a very good situation down the road. We played much better than last weekend and now we need to go out at get those W's."

At 1-2 overall on the season, Academy of Art got 28 points from Forthan to tie her career-high. She added 13 rebounds and two steals while Camera supported with 15 points (3-for-7 3PT) and Storey contributed 14 points (4-of-5 from beyond the arc). Storey becomes the first ART U player with over 100 career 3-pointers tonight. Junior Jasmin Guinn finished with nine points and six rebounds as well.

Cal Poly Pomona earns its first victory of the year to go to 1-2 overall led by 25 points (5-of-8 3PT) from Marsh and a double-double (12 points, 11 assists) by Goecke. Blackwell added 16 points, eight rebounds, and six assists.

ART U continues to challenge California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) opponents with a road game at Cal State Stanislaus coming up this Saturday, Nov. 22 evening at 5:30 PM followed by the Knights' home opener versus Cal State Dominguez Hills on Monday, Nov. 24 at 7:30 PM.

"Of course [Cal Poly Pomona] was going to give us their best game," Coach Larson said. "We will be fine. Saturday will be a bounce back for us, then we need to grind one out Monday."