Box Score
Photo Gallery (photos by Rob Garcia)

Honolulu, HI – A special 2012-13 season for Academy of Art University Women's Basketball continued Saturday night as the Urban Knights set a new program record with 15 3-pointers made en route to their 85-68 victory over Hawaii Pacific. Inside the Neal Blaisdell Center for the start of a three-game Hawaii roadtrip, ART U surged ahead early and never trailed as recent Pacific West Player of the Week Jordan Rogers poured in a career-high 26 points including six triples made to tie the single-game record by an individual Urban Knight. Rogers was one of five Knights to score in double figures as part of another balanced attack.

"We really keyed in on this being one of the most important games of the season," head coach LaNay Larson said. "HPU has a great program and the first game of the Hawaii trip is always tough. We were a little short-handed tonight, but I felt like the girls really stepped up, filled in the gaps, and did what they needed to do to win that game."

On fire from deep early, the Urban Knights commanded a 14-0 lead in the first five minutes thanks to back-to-back triples from senior Nicol Biesek and one each by freshman Regina Camera and Rogers. After HPU got its first basket of the game at 15:09, freshman Sha'Nice Storey brought the hot hand off the bench. She drilled three consecutive 3-pointers to put Academy of Art up 23-4.

"It was exciting and a relief that we finally all came out and shot well," Rogers said. "This is what we have been waiting for and it was nice that we also broke the school record."

A layup by freshman Jasmin Guinn pushed the ART U lead to 21, but Hawaii Pacific responded with a 15-4 run of its own. The Knights got back on track when Camera found Rogers for a triple and then knocked down her own off a feed from sophomore Madeline Martin.

"Hitting those shots was huge for us to get out to a great start," Coach Larson said. "We talked about jumping on them from the beginning and that gave us a nice cushion in the first half."

Rogers was in a rhythm like no other down the stretch in the first half. Junior Alisa Griggs found her for a layup then Rogers returned to her long range heat and sank her third triple of the period. In the final 1:20, she and freshman Zoie Sheng each converted baskets, but free throws by the Sea Warriors kept them close and the halftime difference was 44-34.

"Basketball is a game a runs and we talked about having composure and being able to withstand runs when they made them," Coach Larson said. "Good teams like HPU aren't going to just fold. I expected them to fight back, but I was proud of our girls for not panicking and always maintaining the lead."

Senior Katy Wade found Sheng for a 3-pointer early in the second half yet Hawaii Pacific made a serious cut into the lead with a 9-2 burst. Of course, Rogers was there to shut down that run with another shot from deep and a layup to push it up from seven back to double digits. After a brief dip down, ART U was propelled forward essentially the rest of the way beginning with Storey's fourth trey.

Rogers then capped a 7-0 run with her fifth 3-pointer and dropped in her program-record tying and career-high setting sixth triple to put the Knights up 78-60. That margin would remain for the final three minutes and Academy of Art captured its 10th victory of the year with the 85-68 final.

"It was really important to get that first win [in Hawaii] and make a statement," Rogers said. "It is important that we continue playing the way we did in this game because games in Hawaii are always rough!"

ART U officially rises to 10-3 overall and is now an undefeated 3-0 in PacWest play. As a team, the 15 threes made were a significant step up from the previous high of 11 which came against Sonoma State back in 2008 (the second game in program history).

"Again we had a very balanced and unselfish night on the offensive end of the floor, something you love to see as a coach," Coach Larson said. "I couldn't be happier with Jordan's play right now; she is really our rock in so many ways. It's nice to see her shots falling. We have always had confidence in her shooting ability and knew that would come."

Rogers finished with the career-high 26 points to top her previous mark of 21 which she registered against California Baptist last season. The six 3-pointers matched the record initially set by Caprice Hall in 2009 and then hit twice by Nicole DeRosier during the same month in 2010. Rogers added seven rebounds, three steals, an assist, and a blocked shot on Saturday.

"I felt good going into the game," Rogers said. "I shot well at shoot-around and warm-ups so I was feeling good tonight. The open shots we got came from us moving the ball more on offense and playing unselfishly."

Sheng and Storey, the dynamic tandem from St. Mary's Academy, had 14 points apiece. Sheng offered four rebounds and three assists while Storey put in a season-high four 3-pointers. Biesek went for her own season-high with 12 points including a 2-for-2 night from beyond the arc and six rebounds. Camera had a pair of triples as well and ended with 11 points as well as three assists. Despite foul trouble, Wade was thoroughly active as well, totaling eight points, three assists, three steals, and a blocked shot.

For Hawaii Pacific, now 5-3 overall, 1-1 in PacWest action, the team's leading scorer, Susannah Walmsley was held below her average and had just 12 points. Instead, the Sea Warriors' top scorer was Skye Savini who put in 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds off the bench. Heidi Anton added 13 points and Melody Ladrido had 12 points despite nine turnovers.

ART U will continue its Hawaii roadtrip on Monday, Jan. 7 when the Urban Knights travel around the island of Oahu to BYU-Hawaii. That contest is scheduled to tip off at 5:00 PM HT (7:00 PM PT).