Box Score

Photo Gallery (images by Hailey Archambault & Rob Garcia)

Belmont, CA -- Academy of Art University women's basketball had its eyes on the prize Saturday night, starting off Pacific West Conference play with a 95-56 victory over Notre Dame de Namur. Inside Walter Gleason Gym for the conference opener, the Urban Knights not only scored the second-most points in program history, but did so with 18 steals (2nd all-time) leading to 27 points off turnovers. Senior Jordan Rogers' 20 points led five ART U players scoring in double figures.

"We needed a statement win to start the conference season," head coach LaNay Larson said. "I thought our effort was there consistently on both ends which translates into steals and offensive boards. We focus on controlling the things we can control in a game, eventually we will get more shots to fall but for now we can ride our defense."

As they have done all season, the Urban Knights jumped out to an early lead, getting ahead of the Argos 15-8 via an 11-4 run sparked by senior Katy Wade's layup then furthered by a Rogers triple and another layup by freshman Regina Camera. Soon a 13-0 ART U push increased what was a four-point advantage to 17. Freshman Sha'Nice Storey would come alive off the bench, scoring five points during that stretch.

Strong bench production was a theme for Academy of Art in this one as senior Ariel Dale also provided valuable first-half contributions in the form of seven points and three steals. NDNU, held to the lowest point total by an ART U opponent this season, was unable to find its rhythm as the Knights continued to force turnovers and get easy baskets like the one Dale had with 1:09 left to put her squad up 41-16.

In what essentially became a multi-half surge, Academy of Art did not let up and outscored the Argos 34-7 to take a 31-point lead early in the second period. It seemed as though ART U could not miss to start the second, tossing in five of their first seven attempts. Though freshman Jasmin Guinn found Storey for another long ball to put the Knights up 32, NDNU would begin to find its shot.

Notre Dame de Namur brought it down to a 21-point game, but that run triggered even more suffocating ART U defense and then consecutive layups for Rogers, Dale, and then freshman Zoie Sheng. With the lead back up near 30, junior Alisa Griggs helped keep it there as she repeatedly got to the foul line and added a jumper.

As Wade grabbed roughly one-third of the Knights' second half rebounds, the ART U advantage was eventually extended to 36 on a jumper by sophomore Madeline Martin, another 3-pointer from Rogers, and a layup by Storey assisted by junior Amanda Encelan. Hot to the very end, Academy of Art reached its second highest point total ever with the 95-56 end score. It was four points off the record of 99 scored against Chaminade in 2009.

ART U's overall record rises to 6-1 and 1-0 in PacWest play after the victory which featured five Urban Knights scoring in double digits. Rogers' 20 points was the game-high and her highest point total of the season. She delivered a trio of 3-pointers along with six rebounds and four assists.

“Jordan had a great game and it was nice to see some shots fall her,” Coach Larson said. “She has been so consistent in so many areas for us this year that don't always show up in the box score.”

Complementing Rogers were Dale, Wade, Storey, and Griggs. Dale finished with 18 points, seven rebounds, and four steals while Wade had her second consecutive double-double in the form of 14 points and 12 rebounds. The Portland, OR native added four steals, two blocks, and two assists. Storey offered 14 points off the bench with a pair of 3-pointers. Finally, Griggs added 10 points, doing damage from the foul line where she was 6-of-7.

“I love our balance offensively,” Coach Larson said. “My favorite stat tonight was the assist to turnover ratio. That is one stat that doesn't lie.”

NDNU, now 1-4 overall and 0-1 in the PacWest, was led by Taylor Dewees' 16 points off the bench (4-of-8 from long range). Trisha Malaspina added a team-high eight rebounds off the bench as well, but as a team, the Argos were held to just over 28 percent shooting from the field.

ART U's next roadtrip will be to Cal State Monterey Bay on Wednesday, Dec. 5 before a return to Kezar Pavilion to face new conference member Holy Names on Saturday, Dec. 8. Sign up for the FAN BUS and be sure to stay for the presentation of the PacWest Community Engagement Award to Academy of Art that afternoon.