Box Score

Denver, CO-- The Urban Knights traveled to Denver Colorado Friday to play back-to-back games against the Regis State University Rangers (5-6), Friday evening, and the Metro State Roadrunners (4-6), Saturday afternoon. AAU was hoping to start the New Year off where 2008 finished, they lost by two points to a very tough San Francisco State team, a game in which Coach Yamasaki thought was the best they have played all year. It might have been the travel, or the altitude that hindered the Knights on Friday evening but they definitely did not play like the team that had even opposing fans cheering for them in the game prior. Regis State to held the Knights to 34% shooting from the field (20-of-70) and 11% from behind the arc (2-of-17) while they shot 44% from the field (30-of-68) and 43% from downtown (14-of-32). It is no wonder why they cruised to an 89-62 victory over the Knights.

Regis State started the game on a 13-4 run, connecting on three of seven 3-pointers. The Urban Knights however went on a seven to two run of their own to bring the score to 15-11, that four point spread was a close as the Urban Knights would get in the half. They were able to stay within five or six points, but the Ranger offense was proving to be a challenge for the Urban Knights defense, which was slow on rotations and uncommunicative.  The Knights defense was unable to recognize shooters, leaving them wide open with good looks at the basket, and those Ranger players knocked down those open shots.  Regis finished the half on a 14-4 run and went into the locker room up 47-28.

The second half was all Rangers, increasing their lead to as many as 36. AAU would get as close as 19 but the Rangers shooting proved to be too much for the Urban Knights. They lost the game 62-89.

For Regis four players finished in double digits, Paulina Tuell finished with a game high 18 points. Behind her was Courtney Ault,  Brittany Long, and Emily Kuipers with 14, 13, and 12 points respectively.

Three AAU players also finished in double digits, Sondra Stilwell (Redding, CA) lead with 17 points, five assists, and two steals, Levalasi Key (Citrus Heights, CA) chipped in with 11 points and six rebounds, and KaUwila Lavea (Waikoloa, HI) added 10 points and eight boards.

With the loss the Urban Knights fall to 1-13 overall and Regis State improves to 6-6. The Knights take the floor again Saturday Jan. 3 against Metro State College, tip-off is set for 2:00 PM.