HONOLULU – The first meeting of the season between Academy of Art women's basketball and Hawaii Pacific see-sawed in the first two quarters and just three points separated the teams midway through the fourth, but a 9-0 run down the stretch earned the Sharks a 62-52 Pacific West Conference victory inside their own Shark Tank on Sunday. Sophomore forward/center Alisha Wilson, the PacWest Defender of the Week, continued her strong play of late with 18 points and 15 rebounds for her fifth straight double-double.

Both teams endured a two-minute scoreless stretch in the early going then another in the later stages, but a pair of free throws and two jumpers from senior guard Lauryn Manns kept ART U within striking distance as the opening quarter concluded with HPU only up by four at 15-11.

The Sharks boasted their biggest lead of seven points to start the second quarter, but a triple by freshman guard Madison Johnson represented a sign of things to come as she struck from deep twice while Wilson converted two layups for a 10-0 surge. The push took Academy of Art from down six to up 30-26 and Johnson would sink her fourth 3-pointer of the frame to make it just a one-point ballgame, 34-33 with HPU ahead, at the half.

An 11-3 start to the third period gained Hawaii Pacific its largest margin at 45-36 before the contest's third sequence of over two minutes of scoreless action. Though two triples elevated the home team into double digits on the scoreboard, sophomore guard Jadence Clifton repeatedly got to the basket in the final minute to make it single digits, 51-42, moving to the third.

Multiple scores by Wilson and another from Manns capped what was another 10-0 push bridging the final two quarters to bring ART U within three at 51-48. Academy of Art had opportunities to come even closer, but nine unanswered by HPU thereafter spelled the difference toward their eventual 62-52 win.

The Urban Knights, now 3-10 overall and 3-5 in conference play, were once again paced by Wilson who turned in her seventh double-double of the season (18 points, 15 rebounds) and 21st of her collegiate career which has spanned less than two full seasons. One of four ART U student-athletes with multiple steals, her three thefts came alongside two apiece for Manns, Clifton, and freshman guard Kyla Wandick. Manns added 13 points (including a season-high seven made free throws) and seven rebounds while Johnson's 12 points came exclusively from long range as she hit four 3-pointers. Clifton provided seven points, six rebounds, and four assists to go with her steals.

Yet to depart the Hawaiian Islands this season, Hawaii Pacific picks up its second consecutive win to become 7-6 on the year and 5-1 versus PacWest opponents. Impressing in her 36 minutes of action, Abby Spurgin finished with 16 points, 13 rebounds, and six blocks for the Sharks.

Academy of Art remains on Oahu for a rematch with Chaminade this Tuesday, Jan. 10 at 5:30 p.m. HT (7:30 p.m. PT) for its second of three games in Hawaii.