Box Score
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Oakland, CA – After a jumper by Holy Names' Sonia Aguilar with four seconds left forced the first overtime game for Academy of Art University Women's Basketball this year, the Hawks got the better of ART U 10-5 in the extra period for a 75-50 victory. The Urban Knights take their first Pacific West Conference defeat of the season despite a very evenly played matchup.

"There are a lot of things we could have done different at the end of regulation and in overtime," head coach LaNay Larson said. "Our defense and decision-making have to get better. Those are things a young team often struggles with and hopefully we are learning and growing from these situations."

From the outset, it seemed as though Holy Names was ready to come right at the Knights. After seven minutes had elapsed, the Hawks had managed an 18-9 lead thanks in large part to consistent point production from Brittany Machado-Potestio. Although Jasmin Guinn and Sha'Nice Storey worked in tandem to cut the margin down to four, 18-14, it was soon double digits once again on a Renique Fitzpatrick layup.

However, ART U promptly made another comeback in the form of a 7-0 run highlighted by Zoie Sheng's free throws and a jumper by Aleigh Krug to tie things up 27-27. Holy Names was reluctant to allow the Knights an advantage, but it did come with 1:19 to play in the first when Krystal Forthan hit a jumper on the feed from Molly O'Brien.

HNU responded with free throws and entered the halftime locker room up 36-33. Early in the second half, the Hawks had their lead back up to 11, 44-33, but midway through, Academy of Art began another run. This time, ART U outscored their opponent 9-1 with Alisa Griggs getting into the offense and ultimately Forthan finding Guinn for a layup to make it just 52-50 Hawks with an eternity 9:19 to play.

After Regina Camera buried a triple, the Knights were on their way to a four-point lead, 61-57, as O'Brien and Guinn each contributed layups. ART U remained in prime position for a victory as Sheng converted two free throws and later a layup to hold the four-point advantage.

And yet it was a tag-team by the two top scorers for Holy Names that answered down the stretch. Machado-Potestio tossed in two free throws and Aguilar hit the biggest shot of the game with four seconds left. The guard drove baseline with the clock ticking down and her team trailing by two, but the made basket propelled the Hawks into overtime with some momentum.

Though Guinn started off the extra period with a layup to give the Knights a quick lead, Aguilar retied the contest on free throws and, while Forthan soon got a jumper and an emphatic block, HNU continued to get to the foul line. Eight of their 10 points in overtime came on free throws and it was Aguilar's three-point play with 42 seconds left which ultimately left the advantage on one side. In the end, the Hawks became the first PacWest team to defeat Academy of Art, doing so 75-70 in OT.

The Urban Knights, who take their first loss since Dec. 19, are now 10-6 overall and 7-1 in PacWest play. Forthan led the way with 20 points and 12 rebounds to give her second double-doubles on the year along with three blocks in this one. Guinn added 10 points and eight rebounds while Sheng also contributed 10 points with a perfect night at the foul line (6-of-6 FT). O'Brien did a little bit of everything on Tuesday, chipping in nine points, six rebounds, and five assists.

Holy Names, who had two big scoring nights from Aguilar and Machado-Potestio, moves to 8-6 overall and 4-4 in conference. Aguilar converted 16-of-18 foul shots on her way to a game-high 33 points. Machado-Potestio, on the other hand, did much of her damage from beyond the three-point arc, knocking down 5-of-9 shots and delivering 23 points.

"We have to focus on the things we can control and stay composed and disciplined; that is key for us moving on from here," Coach Larson said. "This team is still growing and progressing and I'm excited to see how we respond on Monday."

ART U makes its long-awaited return home on Monday, Jan. 20 to start off a three-game week against UH Hilo. The Knights host "Academy of Art University Athletics Day" with special halftime contests and the presentation of the 2013 Women's Track & Field Division II National Championship rings as well. Sign up for the FAN BUS here!