Following up a 2012-13 season chock full of highlights and history, Academy of Art University Women's Basketball looks to take another step forward beginning this Friday, Nov. 8. The Urban Knights' sights are set on not just defending their Pacific West Conference Tournament Championship, but building a tradition of winning in 2013-14.

"I feel like we enter this season with a whole new level of expectations," head coach LaNay Larson said. "In the past, it has always been about doing what hasn't been done before, making history, setting new milestones. While we still have a lot to accomplish, I feel like we have already put our program on the map and that we are now looking to improve on what we have already done."

ART U returns a large core of the squad who in 2012-13 defeated multiple ranked teams, won nine in a row en route to the PacWest Tournament Championship, and made the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance. In just its first year of post-season eligibility, Academy of Art showed it could hang with national contenders like #17 Pittsburg State, whom the Knights knocked off 82-73 in the Las Vegas Challenge, and #13 Grand Canyon, whom ART U put away 63-55 in overtime and later defeated again in the PacWest Championship Tournament.

Matching the best win streak of any Academy of Art Athletics team, Women's Basketball reeled off nine straight victories from Feb. 14 - Mar. 9 with the final, a 75-49 triumph over Hawaii Pacific, assuring them the PacWest Championship Tournament trophy and a trip to the NCAA Tournament. Up against #5 Western Washington, ART U did not advance past the first round, but still finished up with a 23-9 record, the best in program history.

In 2013-14, the Urban Knights embark upon a 28-game schedule that takes them through non-conference tournaments hosted by Western Oregon (Nov. 8-9) and Dixie State (Las Vegas Challenge - Dec. 18-19) as well as the CCAA/PacWest Challenge which Academy of Art itself hosts (Nov. 16-17). ART U will battled opponents from the CCAA (Humboldt State, Cal State East Bay, Cal State Dominguez Hills) and GNAC (Western Oregon, Saint Martin's, Simon Fraser) in addition to its full slate of PacWest competition. For more on this year's schedule, click here.

"I feel like we have to be prepared for every game non-conference," Coach Larson said. "A lot of the teams on our schedule are going to surprise some people and I feel like do well in their respective conferences. We know that we can't sneak up on anyone this year and have a big target on our back. The PacWest from top to bottom continues to get stronger and you can never take a night off. I feel like the talent level and competitive play continues to increase and it will be a battle to see who finished on top."

A youth-heavy class features just one senior, Alisa Griggs, and three juniors, Madeline Martin, Molly O'Brien, and Sherelle Williams. Griggs was a key reserve for the Knights last season after an injury, playing an efficient 14 minutes per game with averages of nearly eight points and five rebounds and the highest field goal percentage on the team. Like Griggs, Martin has been with the program for three years, bringing experience to the youthful lineup.

"We have a great core of returners who gained a lot of experience last year," Coach Larson said. "With one senior, we continue to be a very young squad, but one with post-season experience which is huge. I am excited for Alisa, our lone senior, to be able to finish out her career this team."

O'Brien is a transfer from Wichita State and carries the title of being the first athlete from Spokane, MO to sign with a NCAA Division I program. Extremely athletic, O'Brien was a three-sport athlete while at Spokane High School, earning numerous honors in basketball, track & field, and softball. Williams, who red-shirted with ART U last season, originally transferred from Tacoma Community College and also brings a versatile background having garnered awards in both basketball and track & field.

The ART U sophomores are a nine-part series that includes Krystal Forthan, Aleigh Krug, Sierra Haverfield, Kirstyn Champion, Vianai Austin, Jasmin Guinn, Zoie Sheng, Sha'Nice Storey, Regina Camera.

Forthan, a transfer from Division I Louisiana State University and unanimous McDonald's All-American, looks to show her elite-level talent when eligible to compete while Krug, a transfer from Division I Portland State, Haverfield, a transfer from Central Washington, and Champion add to the Knights' depth up front.

After a highly productive freshman year, Austin red-shirted last season due to injury while Guinn played a similar role as Austin the season prior, providing speed and dynamic scoring ability off the bench in 2012-13. Guinn will complement a strong core at the guard position from last year with Sheng, Storey, and Camera poised to build off their respectively impressive freshman campaigns.

Camera was PacWest Tournament Team in addition to registering over 10 points and two steals per game. The St. Mary's Academy tandem of Sheng and Storey logged a large number of important minutes while offering stability (Sheng's 1.7 assist-to-turnover ratio was among the best in the PacWest) and defensive quickness (Storey tied the single-game program record with eight steals versus Western Oregon).

"Last year we had four freshmen who started or saw significant minutes for us and they have all gotten better and will play big roles this year," Coach Larson said. "Two Division I transfers look to fill the shoes of the seniors we graduated and are game-changers who should really excel."

Joining the squad for their first collegiate seasons are D'Andree Galipeau, a standout forward from Archbishop Mitty High School, and Irene Aranda, a four-year letter winner out of Vincent Memorial High School. As a Monarch, Galipeau helped lead teams who captured multiple titles including a state Division 2 championship in 2011-12. Aranda was a four-year letter winner at Vincent Memorial High School, securing four Manazanita League Championships with the Scots.

Deep at every position and primed to build on their thrilling PacWest Championship run last year, the Urban Knights are eagerly awaiting the start of a new journey on Nov. 8.

"This team got a taste of what postseason was like last year," Coach Larson said. "Winning the conference tournament and making the NCAA was a great start, but I know there is a bitter taste from some of our losses last year. This is a highly motivated, competitive team that expects big things this year. They are a fun group to coach because they are talented, but also unsatisfied and hungry to achieve more."