Box Score

Las Vegas, NV -- Less than 24 hours after toppling #17 Pittsburgh State, Academy of Art University women's basketball hung with Central Missouri, but ultimately fell 92-80 in the championship game of the Dixie State's Las Vegas Challenge. Back inside Orleans Arena for ART U's final game of the calendar year, a total of five Urban Knights scored in double figures, however, the Jennies connected on 13 shots from beyond the arc for the edge.

"That is the most athletic team we are going to play all year and the way they hit from the outside made them so hard to guard," head coach LaNay Larson said. "We came out a little flat and you can't against a team that I think has the talent to beat anyone in the country."

Camera, who came off a career-high 23 points against PSU, continued her hot hand with a 3-pointer to start, but UCM's BreAnna Lewis responded to initiate an early shootout. Camera would proceed to bury two more triples and yet Lewis matched her. That theme would continue throughout the first half as, unlike yesterday, the teams combined to make 12 threes in the period.

When the dust had settled and the first media timeout was called, Central Missouri held a 15-9 advantage. From there, the Knights rattled off six unanswered points again highlighted by a long ball from Camera and a layup by junior Alisa Griggs that put them up by one, 16-15. The Jennies, however, responded with an 11-1 run as three players not named Lewis connected from distance.

Though senior Ariel Dale began to get into a rhythm scoring, UCM pushed their lead to double digits with free throws and baskets from beyond the arc. Central Missouri finished the half on a 15-5 run and was 8-of-11 from deep to take a 50-31 margin at the break.

The UCM push continued in the second half as Brielle Wattley hit another 3-pointer during a 9-3 run to start. It was then nearly three full minutes of no baskets made by either team before layups by senior Jordan Rogers and Griggs helped get the Knights back on track. Griggs would soon deliver a three-point play to cut the Jennies' lead below 20, but that momentum was unfortunately short-lived.

Back and forth at the foul line, both squads took care of business with Rogers and Dale each putting in a pair. Despite the Central Missouri advantage nearly reaching 30 points, ART U was determined to keep fighting. Baskets by freshmen Sha'Nice Storey, Zoie Sheng, and Jasmin Guinn all came after a Rogers triple to contribute to a 22-5 run by the Knights at the end. UCM prevailed 92-80, but Academy of Art showed their resolve to never give up.

"Offensively, we got enough shot attempts, but didn't convert at the percentage they did and gave them too many trips to the free throw line," Coach Larson said.

It was another balanced attack for ART U Wednesday as five players scored in double figures led by 15 apiece for Dale, Rogers, and Camera. Dale was 7-of-10 from the foul line and added a game-high 11 rebounds along with three steals. Rogers also converted her free throws (8-of-10), grabbing six rebounds to go with two steals and two assists. Camera finished 5-of-12 from beyond the arc in addition to three rebounds and two assists.

For the 9-3 Urban Knights, Sheng added 12 points (5-of-6 FT) and had two steals while Guinn put in 10 points off the bench with four rebounds and three steals. Griggs finished with seven points and two blocks as well.

Central Missouri rises to 8-1 powered by a career-high 30 points from Lewis. She was 7-of-14 from long range and grabbed five rebounds while Keuna Flax, who played her first game for UCM on Tuesday, finished with 23 points (10-of-12 FT) and seven rebounds. Quinnecia Twine was the third Jenny to score in double figures with 13 points and six rebounds.

"These two games [against Pitt State and Central Missouri] are great preparation for conference," Coach Larson said. "I consider both teams top teams in the country with very opposite playing styles and match-ups that will make us more experienced in the end."

Academy of Art will have a break from competition until its trip to Hawaii which begins with Hawaii Pacific on Jan. 5. ART U will then take on BYU-Hawaii (Jan. 7) and Chaminade (Jan. 9).