HAYWARD, Calif. – Thankful for one another, the Urban Knights showed how team defense can fuel its offense in Academy of Art University's first win of the season on Saturday. ART U posted numerous statistical season-highs, scored 14 points in transition, and ended up earning a 73-62 victory over Humboldt State on day one of the Cal State East Bay Thanksgiving Shootout.

"It felt good to get a win, this group needed to experience it after a tough first stretch to start the season," said head coach LaNay Larson.

Senior guard Alana Simon made an immediate impact in her first start of the year, scoring five of the team's first seven points during a 7-2 run to begin the game. The Lumberjacks delivered a 9-2 response, but the Knights proceeded to convert seven unanswered with three consecutive steals leading to fastbreak baskets for junior guards Jazzlyn Brewster, Rodericka Ware, and Hayley Pryor.

Brewster and freshman guard Karlegih Joseph offered more of the same early in the second quarter as each of their thefts turned into layups for a 24-20 lead. Six straight points then came from freshman forward Elle Williams late in the opening half and Academy of Art carried a 42-35 advantage into the halftime locker room.

Though Joseph hit a 3-pointer midway through the third quarter, it was ART U's only points during a 12-3 run by HSU to take its first lead since the opening quarter. The Knights, however, answered back with back-to-back triples from Brewster during a 10-2 finish that had them up 55-49 moving to the fourth.

A quick 6-2 burst brought the Jacks within four in the opening minutes of the final quarter, but that was as close as they would get. Simon's three-point play then sparked a 12-5 Academy of Art run that was capped by senior forward Pre'Franz Dominick's layup, effectively sealing ART U's 73-62 win.

Saturday's result puts ART U at 1-4 overall this season and the team season-highs came across the board in points (73), rebounds (42), assists (18), steals (17), and turnovers forced (28). Brewster scored a season-high 17 points with eight rebounds, five assists, and three steals. In her first start for the Knights, Simon finished with 12 points, five rebounds, and four steals while Pryor posted 11 points, four rebounds, and four steals as well.

"I feel like we have enough talent offensively that a number of players can lead us in scoring on any given night," said Larson. "It was nice to see the effort on defense turn into easy baskets on offense."

For the now 1-5 Humboldt State Jacks, Catharine Rees had 13 points and Teylor McMiller added 12 points with nine rebounds. However, four different HSU players finished with five turnovers apiece as part of the team's 28 in the game.

Academy of Art will match up with tournament host Cal State East Bay, who improved to 3-2 with a 78-62 win over Dominican in the nightcap, tomorrow at 4 p.m. back inside Pioneer Gym.

"We will have to play much more disciplined tomorrow against an East Bay team that has already improved a great deal since the beginning of the season," said Larson.