SAN FRANCISCO – Academy of Art University women's basketball found itself in a dogfight with another team, Concordia, vying for a spot in the Pacific West Conference Championship Tournament on Monday. Forcing 14 turnovers in the second half and outscoring the Eagles by 15 in those final two periods, the Urban Knights avenged their 11-point halftime deficit and won 81-78 inside Kezar Pavilion. Senior guard Alana Simon scored a season-high 26 points, junior forward Helena Orts added 20 points, and junior guard Rodericka Ware chipped in 15 points to lead ART U.

Though CUI started on a 7-2 run, the teams were tied 20-20 at the end of the first quarter. A 9-2 push by the visitors came early in the second, but Simon provided two quick baskets to keep it close. However, a 13-2 surge by the Eagles ensued and the halftime score favored Concordia 43-32.

Junior guard Jazzlynn Brewster found Orts for three layups in the first four minutes of the second half as Academy of Art dropped the margin to single digits with a 13-5 start to the third quarter. Tied 50-50, CUI once again led heading into the final period after Portia Neale knocked down a 3-pointer with under a minute left in the third.

Simon, Orts, and Ware put together a 7-0 burst to get ART U the lead opening the fourth, but it did not last because the Eagles were busy coming back to tie and take multiple leads. After see-sawing back and forth, a three-point play by Montana Walters put the visitors up two and then Ugochi Anudokem got an offensive putback for a 71-68 advantage.

That margin was quickly erased by Ware's triple and though Simon answered a CUI layup with two baskets in the paint, a 3-pointer by Annie Studdert regained the lead for Concordia. With 35 seconds left, Simon drove the lane, hung in the air, and nailed the jumper that would put the Knights ahead permanently. Free throws by Brewster helped seal the 81-78 win in the end.

Now 15-11 overall and 11-7 in conference play, Academy of Art moves into a tie with Notre Dame de Namur for the fifth spot in the standings, a full game ahead of Dominican who is currently on the outside of the tournament. Simon improved her season-high by one point with a total of 26 on Monday (12-for-20 from the field) pus seven rebounds. Orts scored 16 of her 20 points in the second half and grabbed seven rebounds. Ware contributed 15 points with six steals and five assists while Brewster posted a team-high seven assists.

Concordia has one game left to play and now with an 8-11 PacWest record (10-15 overall), the Eagles are ninth in the standings. Ugochi Anudokem had a double-double for CUI with 17 points and 11 rebounds and Montana Walters added 14 points with 11 assists.

This Thursday, Feb. 23, ART U is set to play its penultimate regular season home game with a 5:30 p.m. matchup coming against UH Hilo at CCSF.