Box Score
San Mateo, Calif (2/4/09)—The Academy of Art University Urban Knights(5-17) showed heart and much improvement in their 67-49 loss Wednesday evening, at the College of San Mateo, against the visiting Seattle University Redhawks(12-7). AAU faced a Redhawk team who in this past season has beaten DI opponents and competed with top Pac-10 schools. This Seattle University team was expected to come on the Urban Knights home floor and make easy work of the young team. But the stubborn and tenacious Urban Knights gave the Redhawks a run from their money until the final minutes of the game ticked off the clock. It was apparent that the Urban Knights were focused and steadfast from the tip-off, not letting the Seattle reputation steer them off their course. Junior point guard Sondra Stilwell (Redding, CA) had another knock out game leading the Knights into battle. Stillwell finished with 19 points dished out four assists and collected three steals in the fight against Seattle U, but despite her best efforts the Urban Knights were unable to bridge the gap that was created by the Redhawks, dropping the game 67-49 in what was by no means a blow-out or a one sided show.
The Urban Knights jumped out of the gate on fire, winning the tip and dishing the ball to Junior guard Caprice Hall (Fremont, CA) who knocked down the first 3-pointer of the game to give the Urban Knights a 3-0 lead. Breanna Salley's lay-up on the other end for the Redhawks was no good but Mercedes Alexander was there to grab her first of nine offense rebounds of the night and sink the put back lay-up to bring the score to 3-2. AAU would answer right back scoring the next two baskets on a Levalasi Key (Citrus Heights, CA) fast break lay-up and a Stillwell jumper to bring the score to 7-2 within the first minute of the game. The AAU run was short lived as Seattle University answered with a run of their own taking and expanding their lead to as many as 13 points on a 20-2 run capped by an Alexander lay-up. The 13 point lead established by the Redhawks would be the biggest of the night until late in the second half. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Hall and Stilwell capped a 10-0 run that allowed the Urban Knights to come within three (22-19), but the Redhawks scored the final eight points of the first half. Going into the locker room up 11 points, 19-30. The first half saw the Knights shoot 22% from the field on 7-of-31 shooting while the Redhawks shot 31% from the field on 12-of-39 shooting. The Knights were out rebounded 32-17 with SeattleU hitting the offensive glass harder and nabbing 12 offensive rebounds over the knights' 4.
The second half started with the Knights narrowing the Redhawk lead to seven within the first two minutes, a Lorraine Etchell (Healdsburg, CA) lay-up brought the score to 23-30. The lead over the next ten minutes would fluctuate between 11 and 15 points as the Urban Knights tried to cut into the Redhawk lead. AAU would bring the score to within seven one last time at the 10:06 mark. That would be as close as the Knights would get as SeattleU finished the game on a 20-8 run. Although the game was lost by 18 points the Urban Knights fought until the end. Head Coach Lindsey Yamasaki said after the game “I am so proud of our effort tonight. Even though we lost by 18 points this wasn't and 18-point game, this was an 8 to 11 point game. We played with that team for 35 minutes, and I am excited at the growth we have made.”
Seattle University was lead by Mercedes Alexander who had a double-double, 22 points and 19 rebounds. Breanna Salley added 16 points, two assists, two blocks, and two steals. While Cassidy Murillo and Chelsie Morrison both finished with 10 points and four rebounds.
For the Urban Knights Stilwell had a team high 19 points, really pouring on the steam in the second half. In the first half Stillwell was 2-of-6 from the field and 1-of-3 from behind the arc, going into the half with five points. Stillwell finished the game 7-of-17 from the field and 4-of-8 from three-point land, had four assists and three steals. Hall added 11 points and two steals. Key chipped in with nine points and six rebounds and a block. Also contributing on the glass Ali Tyson-Taufoou (Cape Girardeau, MO) grabbed a team-high 10 boards.
The Knights drop to 5-17 overall with the loss and Seattle University improves to 12-7. The Academy of Art ladies return to the floor Friday Feburary 6th at Kezar Pavilion where they will play their final home game of the season against Hawaii Pacific University.
