KNIGHT WATCH
A hustle team through and through, Academy of Art currently ranks first in the Pacific West Conference in steals per game (9.76), turnover margin (6.18), and offensive rebounds per game (16.5). Major differences in turnovers through their SoCal roadtrip have upped ART U to 13th in the entire NCAA Division II in turnover margin and the Urban Knights have been capitalizing more often than not, averaging the third-most points in the conference (74.7) thus far.

Through 16 games played this season, junior guard Zoie Sheng has scored in double figures in all but four for a 13.3 points per game average that ranks 16th in the PacWest. She remains second in the PacWest in free throws (84 percent) and needs just 30 more free throws made to surpass Alisa Griggs' all-time record. Top 10 in both 3-point shooting (35.1 percent) and 3-pointers made per game (2.0), junior guard Sha'Nice Storey upped her average to 12.6 points per game after turning team-highs of 22 points and 17 points in the Knights' last two games.

Junior guard Jasmin Guinn (10.9 points per game) scored a new career-high with 20 points against California Baptist and ranks 11th in the PacWest in rebounds per game (8.1). She needs just seven more steals to become the program's career leader.

EN GARDE, CHAMINADE
In just 10 games played this season, Chaminade is 1-9 with their lone win (67-65) coming in conference against Fresno Pacific on Jan. 8. The Silverswords are scheduled to play Notre Dame de Namur on Jan. 17 prior to their Jan. 19 matchup with ART U. In PacWest play, other than a 92-47 loss to Hawaii Pacific and 77-46 defeat at the hands of Point Loma, Chaminade has been extremely close to its opponents, falling to UH Hilo by one, 60-59 and seven to Dixie State (75-68). Thus far, the team has been led by Kristle Henry (11.6 ppg) and Katie Buskey (10.7 ppg). Heading into the first meeting of these two teams this season, Academy of Art holds an 11-0 all-time record against the Silverswords.

ATTACK OF THE SHARKS
Along with ART U and California Baptist, Hawaii Pacific is the only other team in the PacWest with double digit victories and they are the lone undefeated team with an 8-0 record in conference. The Sharks will travel to Fresno Pacific (Jan. 17) and Holy Names (Jan. 19) prior to facing the Knights and ride a five-game win streak into this weekend. HPU has won its past three games by an average margin of 28 points and brings in one of the PacWest's top talents in Morganne Comstock. She is the conference's top rebounder (11.7 rpg) and second in scoring (19.6 ppg), shooting 55 percent from the field (third in PacWest), a number improved by her career-high 30 points versus FPU on Jan. 10. In the historical matchup, HPU leads 7-4, but ART U has won the previous two meetings (one of which was the 75-49 PacWest Conference Championship game in 2013).

BRING ON BYU-HAWAII
Winners of five of its last seven, BYU-Hawaii sits among the top three teams in the PacWest standings with a 5-2 record. The Seasiders will face Holy Names (Jan. 17), Dominican (Jan. 19), and Fresno Pacific (Jan. 22) before finishing their mainland roadtrip in San Francisco against ART U. BYUH comes off wins over FPU, Dixie State, and Notre Dame de Namur. Brydgette Tatupu-Leopoldo is the PacWest's fifth leading scorer (16.4) and a dangerous threat from long range (42.5 percent) while Celeste Claw is the conference's assists leader (7.3 apg). In 11 total meetings, Academy of Art is on top 9-2.

KNIGHTS SWIPE ONE FROM AZUSA PACIFIC ON TOUGH SOCAL ROADTRIP
Down in Southern California for three games in five days, Academy of Art fought back to sweep the season series against Azusa Pacific with a 69-66 victory in between losses to California Baptist and Point Loma. Coming back from down seven with just under three minutes left, ART U went on a 12-2 run to end the contest on top. Highlights in the other contests included Guinn's career-high 20 points against CBU and a team-high 17 points from Storey came versus the Sea Lions.

LOOKING AHEAD
ART U will continue its homestand in the final week of January with a Jan. 31 rematch hosting Dixie State followed by a Feb. 2 reunion with Point Loma.