San Francisco, Calif. (2/6/09) -- Academy of Art University dropped a 85-65 decision to Pacific West Conference foe Hawaii Pacific University Friday night at Kezar Pavilion in the Urban Knights' home finale. Although the teams were in a dogfight for the opening 25 minutes, the Sea Warriors surged to the end with a 31-13 run. Junior point guard Sondra Stilwell scored 13 points, distributed seven assists and notched six steals while freshman guard Vanessa Wilkins came off the bench to tally 10 points and eight rebounds. As it was “Senior Knight,” forward Levalasi Key had a 13-point, seven-rebound performance and guard Ali Tyson-Taufoou added nine points and 11 rebounds in each player's last home game.

AAU came out of the gates on fire and had quickly established a 24-12 lead in the first eight minutes. Stilwell was responsible for nine of the Knights' first 18 points including a pair of 3-pointers, but the 12-point lead would slowly be whittled down by HPU over the next nine minutes. A jumper by forward Mana Hopkins cut the deficit to two points at the 3:29 mark and it looked like the visitors might retake the lead before the first period came to an end. Yet Academy of Art managed to withstand the 24-14 run made by the Sea Warriors and go into the halftime locker room with a 44-40 advantage after Stilwell found her teammate, freshman point guard Lorraine Etchell, for a trey with 1:07 left.

Although Key and Tyson-Taufoou each got layups for AAU's first four points of the second half, Hawaii Pacific responded by tying the contest, 48-48, with 17:46 on the clock on a layup by guard Tiffany Wilson. Then three consecutive turnovers by the Knights resulted in a six-point swing in favor of the Sea Warriors. Four straight points by Wilkins brought her squad to within two points, but they would unfortunately come no closer because HPU then created some space with a 15-5 run.

The Knights seemed to be taken out of their game from this turn of events and although they attempted several 3-pointers to make a comeback in the final six minutes, none seemed to fall. Hawaii Pacific pushed their advantage to 20 points with a free throw and a bucket in the final minute, but the final score did not reflect how strong Academy of Art University had competed in this game.

Stilwell, Key and Etchell each scored 13 points apiece for AAU and yet the trio only managed to combine for 13 points on 6-of-24 shooting from the field in the second half. Wilkins had yet another impressive rebounding performance particularly with six coming on the offensive glass to go with her 10 points. Wilkins was complemented by Tyson-Taufoou who pulled seven of her 11 rebounds on the defensive end. Finally, junior guard Caprice Hall contributed seven points and five assists, but a 1-of-7 shooting night from beyond the arc generally reflected the Knights' overall struggles from the field.

For the Sea Warriors, guard Paris Gravely had a game-high 23 points and six rebounds, Wilson chipped in 19 points and forward Genesis Lewis finished with a double-double in the form of 10 points and 11 rebounds.

With no more home games on the schedule going forward, Academy of Art University next heads to Rocklin, California where it will face William Jessup University whom the Knights opened up their season against back on Nov. 13 at Kezar Pavilion. In that game, the teams fought through seven ties and four lead-changes before AAU wound up falling 66-58 to the visitors. The rematch will take place at the Warriors' WJU Activities Building on Feb. 16 with tip-off set for 5:30 PM.