LAIE, Hawaii – Academy of Art University women's basketball scored in transition all throughout Wednesday night's Pacific West Conference matchup with BYU-Hawaii, turning up its offense with a 29-point fourth quarter en route the 87-60 win inside the Cannon Activities Center. Senior guard Alana Simon had game-highs of both 23 points and six steals to lead ART U's season-high 33 points off turnovers.

"We went on some very good runs that showed what we are capable of on both ends of the floor," said head coach LaNay Larson. "Knowing that we have that capability is important, but we have to be able to play like that consistently and not continue to get complacent with a lead."

After leading by four points in the early going, BYU-Hawaii saw the tables turn when a 14-1 Urban Knights run put the visitors up nine. Academy of Art forced seven Seasider turnovers during that span alone with 3-pointers from junior forward Helena Orts and junior guard Rodericka Ware providing big boosts.

ART U continued to clamp down defensively and pushed double-digit advantage early in the second quarter. A 10-2 run to start with seven of those points coming off turnovers led to a 34-17 margin for the Knights and it only grew from there. Junior guard Hayley Pryor's jumper initiated a 9-0 surge and by halftime the difference was 45-26 in favor of Academy of Art.

Three successive 3-pointers and one more thereafter helped BYU-Hawaii respond with a 20-4 push spanning the end of the first half into the third quarter as the Seasiders cut the advantage down to six points (49-43) with over 13 minutes left to play. Five points by Simon in the final two minutes of the third pushed the ART U lead back to double digits moving into what would be a big fourth quarter for Simon and the Knights.

Simon scored 14 points in the first five and half minutes of the fourth, converting from beyond the three-point arc, at the foul line, and around the basket. When the dust had settled it was a 23-4 run by Academy of Art that included 21 unanswered and was finished by five quick points from Orts to make it a 30-point lead, 81-51, with 3:04 to play. ART U would maintain that advantage to the 87-60 victory.

"Alana did what she does best down the stretch," said Larson. "She was taking it to the basket and using her athleticism on both ends of the floor. When she turns it on, she can be unstoppable and we look for more of that from her as we come into the final stretch."

Academy of Art improves to 14-11 overall and 10-7 in conference play to move a full game ahead of Dominican for the sixth spot in the PacWest standings. Simon paced the Knights with 23 points (two off her season-high), six steals, and added six rebounds. Orts posted 21 points (8-for-12 from the field) with nine rebounds and Ware offered 17 points. Pryor (11 points) and junior guard Jazzlynn Brewster (10 points) rounded out five ART U players to score in double figures.

BYU-Hawaii takes its seventh loss in its past eight games and drops to 9-15 overall and 6-12 in the PacWest. The Seasiders were led by 22 points and 12 rebounds from Kristin Baldwin.

With its Hawaii roadtrip complete, ART U returns for a three-game homestand to finish the regular season. First up, Academy of Art hosts Concordia on Monday, Feb. 20 inside Kezar Pavilion at 5:30 p.m.

"We had to win at least two of the games over in Hawaii to stay in contention for postseason," said Larson. "We made strides and almost were able to come away with three, but now it is time to refocus and one game at a time to finish out the regular season."