Game #19
ART U Urban Knights (4-14, 4-9 PacWest) vs. UH Hilo Vulcans (7-12, 4-9 PacWest)
Sunday, January 29, 2023 at 1 p.m.
Belmont, Calif. – Walter Gleason Gym
Live Stats & Live Video

Game #20
ART U Urban Knights (4-14, 4-9 PacWest) vs. No. 18 Azusa Pacific Cougars (17-3, 12-1 PacWest)
Thursday, February 2, 2023 at 5:15 p.m.
Azusa, Calif. – Felix Event Center
Live Stats | Live Video

Game #21
ART U Urban Knights (4-14, 4-9 PacWest) vs. Biola Eagles (10-10, 9-4 PacWest)
Saturday, February 4, 2023 at 1:30 p.m.
La Mirada, Calif. – Chase Gymnasium
Live Stats | Live Video

REMATCHES WITH VULCANS, COUGARS, EAGLES NEXT FOR ART U
Coming off a dramatic overtime loss to Hawaii Pacific earlier this week, Academy of Art women's basketball wraps up its current four-part homestand with UH Hilo then takes Pacific West Conference play back on the road with rematches against No. 18 Azusa Pacific and Biola next week.

TIP-OFF
After hosting UH Hilo inside Walter Gleason Gym in Belmont this Sunday, Jan. 29 at 1 p.m., ART U will travel to Southern California once more to rematch first Azusa Pacific on Thursday, Feb. 2 at 5:15 p.m. inside Felix Event Center then Biola on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 1:30 inside Chase Gymnasium. Remember to follow @ARTU_Knights via the athletics app (Apple App Store, Google Play Store) and on Twitter & Instagram, as well as "Like" the Urban Knights on Facebook for score updates, videos, and recaps.

KNIGHT WATCH
Academy of Art comes off its highest point (65) and rebound (43) totals in its last four games following the overtime battle with Hawaii Pacific and currently remains fourth in the conference in steals per contest (8.3).

No player in NCAA Division II currently averages more offensive rebounds than sophomore forward/center Alisha Wilson whose 5.8 boards on the offensive end have supported her average of 14.0 rebounds per game (tied for second in NCAA DII). She has also elevated herself to first in the PacWest in field goal percentage (.545), third in scoring (17.2 points per game), fourth in blocks (1.2 per contest), and sixth in steals (2.1 per game). Currently riding a streak of 10 consecutive double-doubles, Wilson has 12 on the season (tied for sixth in NCAA DII and five from breaking the single-season record) and 26 in her career (one from tying the record set by Jasmin Guinn over four years).

With the highest point total by an Urban Knight this season (29) on 10-for-20 shooting in her last time out, sophomore guard Jadence Clifton has risen to 13th in the PacWest at 12.0 points per game. Scoring in double figures in four of her last five games, she adds 3.3 assists and 2.1 steals per contest (both sixth in PacWest). Senior guard Lauryn Manns has provided 8.6 points per game this season to rank third on the team while sophomore forward/center Christy Ojide is just one spot back of Wilson in the conference's blocks per game ranks with her 1.1 rejections per game ranking fifth while her 6.5 rebounds per contest are 13th.

VERSUS THE VULCANS
In the two weeks since topping Academy of Art in Hawaii, UH Hilo has claimed just one win in five contests, a nearly 30-point victory over Holy Names. The Vulcans finish their Northern California road trip this Sunday and continue to find themselves in defensive battles, not scoring more than 65 points in their last seven games. Mandy Kawaha remains UH Hilo's top scorer and distributor at 17.8 points and 4.0 assists per contest (both second in PacWest). The historical matchup with the Vulcans slightly favors the Urban Knights at 11-10.

INSIDE THE ZU
Ranked No. 18 in NCAA DII in the week prior to its rematch with ART U, Azusa Pacific initially took an 87-79 loss to Dominican shortly after the Cougars' first time facing Academy of Art then rattled off seven straight wins. APU will attempt to remain unbeaten through seven home matches when the Cougars host Chaminade on Jan. 30. For an Azusa Pacific team that leads the PacWest in scoring (73.8 points per game) as well as assists (17.2) and blocks (3.6) per game, TyLee Manuel's 14.8 points per game (fourth in PacWest) lead the way while Paige Uyehara's 5.1 assists per contest are far and in front for the conference. With nine straight victories, the Cougars lead the Knights 13-3 all-time.

EVALUATING THE EAGLES
Split down the middle with 10 wins to 10 losses, Biola has been on the victorious side more recently after going 8-2 in the Eagles' last 10 games. BU continues its current homestand, which began with a win over Chaminade, by hosting Dominican on Feb. 2 prior to Academy of Art two days later. Holding opponents to the lowest field goal percentage in the conference at .362 thus far, Biola adds the PacWest's most made 3-pointers on average (9.4) on the other end. Laila Walker is a big reason why as her 12.5 points per game (11th in PacWest) are supported by 2.6 triples made per contest (second in PacWest). In just eight times facing one another previously, Biola is ahead of ART U 5-3 historically.

CLIFTON'S TRIPLE FORCES OVERTIME BUT HPU WINS REMATCH
Working their way back from a double-digit first half deficit, the Urban Knights found themselves tied with Hawaii Pacific 60-60 when sophomore guard Jadence Clifton dramatically connected on a 3-pointer with eight seconds left in regulation. Academy of Art women's basketball could not overcome an overtime push by the Sharks in the 72-65 Pacific West Conference rematch on Jan. 24, but still had two remarkable performances with Clifton scoring a season-high 29 points and sophomore forward/center Alisha Wilson tying her career-high with 22 rebounds plus 19 points for her 10th consecutive double-double.

LOOKING AHEAD
Upon returning from Southern California, ART U will enter the final two weeks of the season which begin by hosting Dominican on Feb. 11.