Game #13
ART U Urban Knights (2-10, 1-8 PWC) vs. Dominican Penguins (11-2, 8-1 PWC)
Thursday, January 17, 2019 at 5:30 p.m.
San Rafael, Calif. – Conlan Recreation Center
Live Stats & Live Video

Game #14
ART U Urban Knights (2-10, 1-8 PWC) vs. Holy Names Hawks (1-16, 1-10 PWC)
Saturday, January 19, 2019 at 4 p.m.
Oakland, Calif. – Tobin Gymnasium
Live Stats & Live Video

ACADEMY OF ART TOURS BAY AREA WITH MATCHUPS AGAINST PENGUINS, HAWKS
Following its six-game homestand, Academy of Art women's basketball shifts into a stretch of five consecutive road contests this week. It starts with Dominican and Holy Names who each sit on opposite ends of the Pacific West Conference standings.

OPENING TIP
On the road for the first time since Dec. 8, the Urban Knights will make two short trips this week beginning with a 5:30 p.m. contest at Dominican inside the Penguins Conlan Recreation Center in San Rafael on Thursday, Jan. 17. This weekend then brings a matchup with Holy Names inside Tobin Gymnasium in Oakland on Saturday, Jan. 19. Live coverage will be available via the links above. Remember to follow @ARTU_Knights via the athletics app (Apple App Store, Google Play Store) and on Twitter & Instagram as well as "Like" the Urban Knights on Facebook for score updates, videos, and recaps.

KNIGHT WATCH
Ranked second in the PacWest in offensive rebounds per game (15.9) just behind Azusa Pacific and fourth in steals per game (8.67), Academy of Art has excelled in the hustle categories this year. The rebounding success has been in large part due to the tandem of freshman guard Chanel Stuart and junior forward Ines Medina ranking third and fourth in the conference in offensive rebounds per game, both virtually at three and a half each contest. Stuart adds the third-highest steals average (2.7 thefts per game) and is one of three Urban Knights putting up double-figure points (11.1) with regularity. Junior guard Brianna Cates is sixth in the conference in scoring at 16.3 points per game, doing so with the fifth-highest field goal percentage (44 percent) among PacWest players. After her fourth game scoring 19 or more points this year saw her go for a career-high 23, sophomore forward Lily Perkins has moved into a tie for 16th in the conference while adding 2.1 steals per game (seventh in the PacWest).

PENGUINS' PROSPECT POINTING UP
Despite losing to Chico State to start the season, Dominican has since risen to sixth in the West Region after winning its next six games including four PacWest contests. The Penguins have dispatched their last five conference opponents and sit second in the standings behind only Azusa Pacific to whom they fell on Dec. 17. The Penguins collectively lead the PacWest in scoring (79.9 points per game), field goal percentage (48.3 percent), three-point percentage (37 percent), and assists (19.07 per contest). At the forefront is NCAA Division II's leading scorer Natalie Diaz who averages 28.6 points per game after scoring 30 or more six times this season. Ranked first and second in field goal percentage, Diaz (52.1 percent) and Alanna Scott (51 percent) are not the only pair of Penguins atop a statistical category as assist-to-turnover ratio is led by Anjelica Collins (4.1) and Vanessa Cruz (2.6). Historically, ART U has come out victorious 16 times in its past 18 times facing Dominican.

TALKING HAWKS
Holy Names began the year with nine consecutive losses, but only two home games during that span. In their December trip to Hawaii, however, the Hawks broke the streak by defeating Chaminade 74-66. Since that time, seven losses have ensued, but Academy of Art will find HNU amid its stretch of 10 of 11 games at home. The Hawks are set to face Notre Dame de Namur on Jan. 17 in Belmont for their lone road contest in more than a month span. Ariana Hernandez leads the HNU charge with 13.6 points per game (13th in PacWest) while Gernijah Martin comes in averaging 8.9 rebounds per contest (fourth in PacWest). The Hawks and Knights have met 12 times previously with ART U holding an 8-4 record all-time.

TRANSITION GAME PROPELS FPU PAST ACADEMY OF ART
In a game that saw some of the team's best shooting of the entire season, Academy of Art women's basketball couldn't work past a second quarter push by Fresno Pacific and ultimately fell short 89-73 on Jan. 12. Though the Sunbirds scored 29 fast break points and had 24 points off turnovers, sophomore forward Lily Perkins highlighted the afternoon by posting a career-high 23 points.

LOOKING AHEAD
Continuing the road swing, ART U heads down to Southern California next week to tip off rematches against Concordia (Jan. 24) and Point Loma (Jan. 26).