SAN FRANCISCO – Academy of Art women's basketball stayed step for step with Point Loma throughout the entirety of Saturday's Senior Day Pacific West Conference rematch, but a 6-2 push approaching the final minute of regulation helped the Sea Lions secure a 61-54 victory inside SF State's Main Gym for ART U's season finale.

A pregame celebration of the Urban Knights' graduate student guards Briana Baker-Bruce and Emilia Dougherty along with senior guard Ashana Hinds began the afternoon as the trio prepared to compete in the last game of their respective collegiate careers.  Family and friends alike embraced the opportunity to appreciate their contributions before getting into the contest at hand.

"Our seniors took on this project at the beginning of the season and led the way by believing in something new and a desire to chase greatness in all aspects," said Head Coach Jesse Clark. "I am so grateful to have had this season to be a part of their student-athlete experience."

As junior forward Yasmine Sifaoui and junior forward/center Christy Ojide worked in tandem to score the first seven points for Academy of Art, PLNU first tied the score then moved up by double digits with a 13-0 run. The final two minutes of the opening quarter belonged to ART U, however, as consecutive Ojide layups were followed by four points from freshman guard Maddie Morrow and one last triple by sophomore guard Alba Rovira Ayuso to cap an 11-0 surge back that gave the Knights an 18-17 advantage moving to the second frame.

After tying twice in the first portion of the second quarter, the teams saw a maximum separation of only six points for the remainder of the half thanks to a Rovira Ayuso 3-pointer. She proceeded to score the game's last three points prior to halftime which had the Sea Lions up only by two at 32-30.

Point Loma steadily built an eight-point lead late in the third frame yet a pair of free throws by freshman guard Anna Fornells and Baker-Bruce's bucket again kept it at just a 45-41 score as the fourth quarter began. That same eight-point margin was again achieved by the visitors with six minutes remaining though it was shrunk to two on a three-point play conversion from Sifoui followed by a Rovira Ayuso triple. Sifaoui would score another layup in the contest's clutch moments, making it 55-51, but PLNU fended off a further comeback using a triple with 21 seconds left to win 61-54.

The Urban Knights finish their 2023-24 campaign at 6-20 overall and 5-15 versus conference opponents. Rovira Ayuso's 14 points, which came with six rebounds and two steals, led the way as Ojide added 12 points plus five rebounds and Sifaoui provided 11 points, three blocks, and two steals.

"Extremely proud of how the group finished the season," Clark said. "Not the result we wanted today and credit to Point Loma for making some key plays on offense down the stretch. We have a lot to build on from the foundations that were laid down by the 2023-24 ART U women's basketball program."

The Sea Lions, who close the regular season third in the PacWest standings at 17-11 overall and 13-7 in conference play, saw Rowell achieve a team-high 19 points while Hannah Golan added 15 points.

This concludes the 2023-24 campaign for Academy of Art women's basketball. For the latest news and information, and the upcoming season in review, check out www.ARTUAthletics.com.