Game #7
ART U Urban Knights (2-4, 0-0 PWC) vs. Fresno Pacific Sunbirds (2-4, 0-0 PWC)
Thursday, December 1, 2016 at 5:30 p.m.
Fresno, Calif. – Special Events Center
Live Stats & Live Video

Game #8
ART U Urban Knights (2-4, 0-0 PWC) vs. BYU-Hawaii Seasiders (2-2, 0-0 PWC)
Monday, December 5, 2016 at 5:30 p.m.
San Francisco, Calif. – Kezar Pavilion
Live Stats & Live Video
 

SUNBIRDS, SEASIDERS FIRST TWO PACWEST OPPONENTS FOR ART U
Coming off its first two wins of the season in the Cal State East Bay Thanksgiving Shootout, Academy of Art University women's basketball enters Pacific West Conference play this Thursday at Fresno Pacific then hosts BYU-Hawaii on Monday.

OPENING TIP
The 1st of December brings the Urban Knights' 2016-17 PacWest debut inside Fresno Pacific's Special Events Center at 5:30 p.m. On the Monday that follows (Dec. 5), ART U will return to Kezar Pavilion to face BYU-Hawaii in another 5:30 p.m. tipoff. Live coverage will be available via the links above. Remember to follow @ARTU_Knights on Twitter & Instagram and "Like" the Urban Knights on Facebook for score updates, videos, and recaps.

KNIGHT WATCH
Currently ranked 11th in the PacWest in scoring, junior guard Rodericka Ware averages 13.7 points per game as well as fourth in the conference in both 3-pointers made and 2.3 steals per game. Now eighth in the PacWest in rebounds per game (8.2), junior forward Helena Orts posted a pair of double-doubles last week with 10 points and 12 rebounds versus Simon Fraser then 13 points and 12 rebounds at Cal State East Bay. Junior guard Jazzlyn Brewster, who broke out for a season-high 17 points against Humboldt State, averages 8.7 points per game to make her the Knights' third leading scorer behind Ware and Orts (9.2 ppg).

HERE COMES THE SUN
After opening the season four straight double-digit losses to tough West Region teams before bouncing back with victories against SF State and Cal Maritime. The Sunbirds put their two-game win streak on the line this Thursday and will look to Bree Alvarez, the PacWest's third leading scorer (17.6 points per game) to guide them. She ranks top six in the conference in both free throw percentage (2nd at 88.9 percent) and three-point percentage (6th at 34.5 percent). Academy of Art is a perfect 4-0 all-time against Fresno Pacific.

SIDE TO SIDE
At home for their first four games of the year, BYU-Hawaii is 2-2 with wins over Central Washington and Oakland City. The Seasiders make the first of two trips to the mainland this week, facing Holy Names on Dec. 3 before the matchup with ART U begins a three-game week against the conference's Northern California pod. The sister duo of Marian Sheikh (15.3 points per game) and Safia Sheikh (14.8 points per game) are BYU-Hawaii's main offensive threat (ranking fifth and sixth in the conference in scoring, while the tandem of Kristin Baldwin (11.5 rebounds per game) and Mata Tonga (10.5 rebounds per game) are also atop the PacWest for a team that currently out-rebounds its opponents by 6.5 boards per game. the Knights hold a 10-4 advantage all-time versus BYUH.

ART U PICKS UP FIRST TWO WINS IN THANKSGIVING TOURNEY
At the Cal State East Bay Thanksgiving Shootout on Nov. 26-27, Academy of Art University women's basketball broke out for its first two wins of the season. A 73-62 victory over Humboldt State on Nov. 26 featured a season-high 17 points from Brewster along with numerous statistical season-highs (points, rebounds, assists, steals). Then on Nov. 27, ART U used a 12-0 run at the start of the fourth quarter to top host Cal State East Bay 57-54. Ware scored 11 of her game-high 19 points in the third quarter alone.

LOOKING AHEAD
The Knights will play Holy Names on the road Sunday, Dec. 11 then briefly return to non-conference play the following week, matching up with Cal State Monterey Bay on Nov. 17.