Box Score
Hilo, HI--- The Academy of Art women's basketball team dropped a 76-65 decision to the Vulcans of the University of Hawaii-Hilo tonight. Everything seemed to be going right for the Urban Knights until late in the second half when missed shots and multiple free-throw opportunities for the Vulcans catapulted Hilo into the lead once and for all.

“Our inability to assert our will and finish strong was our biggest problem tonight,” said Head Coach Lindsey Yamasaki. “Couple that with our inability to adjust to a tightly ref'ed game against a team that plays a very good unstructured offense and we had a big problem.”

Jessica Nolan gave the Urban Knights a spark to start the game. The senior hit her first two jumpers to give ART U the early 4-0 lead. Verity Peets chimed in as well, hitting her first two shots to keep the Urban Knights over the Vulcans minutes into the game. Six minutes into the contest Hilo brought the game to a tie on their second of many trips to the free-throw line. The Urban Knights, however, were able to maintain a lead for a majority of the half over the Vulcans until the final minute of the first, when University of Hawaii-Hilo would break the fifth tie of the half to go into the locker room up by one point, 25-24.

Jessica Nolan and Nicole DeRosier, ART U's main scoring threats, were shut down early in the first due to foul trouble. Both only played a combined 15 minutes in the half. However, it was Nolan who led all Knights by scoring 10 points in 13 minutes of play.

The difference in the second half was free-throws. University of Hawaii-Hilo hit three less field goals and two less three-pointers in the second half than ART U, but managed to get to the free-throw line 26 times in the second half alone. The Vulcans shot 88.5% from line, connecting on 23 of their 26 attempts, which helped them edge out the Knights, 76-65.

ART U was led by Verity Peets who finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds and was 7-of-15 from the floor. “Verity has been our most consistent player this season,” Yamasaki said. “She played very well for us tonight and was someone I knew we count on all game long.” Devin London registered 13 points in the loss, while Jessica Nolan and Nicole DeRosier added 12 and 11 points respectively. Madeline Martin dished out a game high six assists.

For the Vulcans Hilary Hurley led all players with a game high 24 points and 14 rebounds. Hotia Vaaimamao was next on the team with 15 points and five rebounds. Natalie Mata finished with 12 points, while Kayce Kirihara added 10 points.

The loss drops ART U to 2-8 overall and 0-1 in conference play. UHH, however, improves to 3-6 and 1-0 in the PacWest.

The Urban Knights play return to the court Saturday Jan 8 when they play Chaminade University at McCabe Gym. Game time is set for 5:00PM Hawaiian Time.

“We continue to seek leadership and maturity in the moments we need it most,” Yamasaki reflected. “It is in us, but, it has yet to reveal itself consistently. We are certainly capable of bouncing back but it is going to take those two traits to win in Hawaii.”