TURLOCK, Calif. – Back in California for its third game of the season, Academy of Art University women's basketball carried a lead into the third quarter, but a critical 9-3 run by Stanislaus State led the Warriors to a 67-61 victory in the end. Junior guard Rodericka Ware paced ART U for the third time this year, finishing with a game-high 19 points inside Warrior Arena on Wednesday evening.

"I thought there were glimpses of what kind of team we are capable of being, but we lack the leadership and consistency at this point that is typical of such a new team," said head coach LaNay Larson. "I scheduled tough knowing that it would be a very challenging start to the season. I wanted this group to know how hard we are going to have to work to compete at the highest level, that success doesn't come easy, and adversity builds character."

Although the Warriors established a 9-0 lead out of the gate, five quick points by Ware helped spark the Knights' 7-0 rebuttal. Five unanswered points by Stanislaus State were then met by a 15-4 ART U surge bridging the first two quarters and putting Academy of Art on top 20-16. The stretch was highlighted by two 3-pointers from Ware and a pair of layups by senior forward Pre'Franz Dominick.

From a 22-20 Knights lead at the 5:15 mark in the second quarter, the teams were not separated by more than three points until a layup by junior forward Helena Orts was followed by Ware's third triple with 28 seconds left. That 35-31 advantage was once more shortened by Ana Burch's layup with six seconds on the clock as ART U carried a 35-33 lead into halftime.

Stanislaus State tied the game early in the third quarter and things remained close the rest of the way. Baskets by Ware and Orts helped the Knights go ahead 45-40 and that advantage held until early in the fourth quarter when the Warriors executed a 7-0 run to take the lead. Back-to-back layups by junior guard Jazzlyn Brewster plus a three-point play conversion had Academy of Art on top briefly, but a 9-3 surge helped Stanislaus State close out the 67-61 win.

ART U is now 0-3 overall this season, but had another big game from Ware whose 19 points led all players. She knocked down three 3-pointers and added five assists. In her best game of this young season, Orts contributed 16 points and eight rebounds while Dominick finished with nine rebounds and seven points. Brewster stuffed the stat sheet with nine points, six rebounds, five steals, and two assists.

"We were missing some key kids tonight with injuries but it gave some others a chance to get their feet wet and get good experience," said Larson. "I keep reminding them the season is a marathon not a sprint and that as long as they stay the course we will continue to get a ton better and learn what it takes to be a top team."

Stanislaus State earns its first win of the year and a 1-2 overall record thanks in large part to the efforts of Burch who posted 15 points and four steals. Reana Hardin delivered 14 points and Erika Larsen totaled 10 points off the bench.

The Urban Knights will play their first home game of the year next Wednesday, Nov. 23, tipping off against Simon Fraser at 3 p.m. inside Kezar Pavilion.