Box Score

Chico, CA --- The Urban Knights hung tough with the 17th ranked Wildcats of Chico State University thanks to a breakout performance by senior Verity Peets. Peets who came into the season averaging 9.5 points per game, finished the night with a career high 20 point performance. The senior went 8 for 11 from the field, and 4 of 5 from the free throw line. Peets also notched a team high 10 rebounds in the Urban Knights 55-73 loss to Chico State. The loss is ART U's second of the season, while Chico State starts their season 1-0.

The game went scoreless through the first five minutes of the contest, until a CSU Chico lay-up put the Wildcats up 2-0. A Lorraine Etchell lay-up on the next play tied the game two all. But Chico State would go on an 11-0 run over the next six minutes to bring the score to 13-2. The Urban Knights were able to pull within eight points, 15-7. Down by as many as 15 in the half, ART U found a way to claw their way back into the match, as they went into halftime down by just seven points, 30-23. As a team, the Urban Knights finished the half shooting better in each category than Chico State. ART U shot 34% from field goal range, 25% from beyond the arc, and 83% from the free throw line.

Chico State capitalized on 24 bench points and 17 points off turnovers in the second half for the victory. The Urban Knights whittled Chico State's lead to five with 13:36 to go in the contest, but the Wildcats scored 10 straight points, off a 12-2 run, to go up 55-40 to take control of the contest for good. ART U trailed 55-46 when Chico ended any chance of an Urban Knight comeback with a 13-3 run that gave Chico State a 68-49 lead with 5:34 remaining. ART U could not overcome the deficit as they dropped the match, 73-55.

Chico State was led by Courtney Harrison, who finished the contest with 15 points in just 19 minutes. Molly Collins chipped in with 11 points. As a team, the Wildcats outshot the Urban Knights from the floor, going 38% from the field and 28% from 3pt territory. The Wildcats forced 26 turnovers and out rebounded the Urban Knights by nine, 42-33.

For the Urban Knights, Verity Peets notched her first double-double of the season, finishing with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Lorraine Etchell added 12 points in the contest, and was a perfect 8-8 from the free throw line. Nicole DeRosier was next on the team with nine points and three rebounds. While Alisa Griggs rounded out the group with eight points, going 2-3 from the field, and 4-4 from the free throw line.

Despite the loss Head Coach Lindsey Yamasaki was pleased with her teams effort, “We lost by 18, but we were much improved,” Yamasaki said. “Different players stepped us for tonight and we had a lot more chemistry on the floor. I am confident we will bounce back from this.”

The Urban Knights finish up play in Chico, CA tomorrow when they take on Sonoma State University at Art Arcker Gym. Tip-off is set for 5:30PM.