Box Score

Photo Gallery (images by Hailey Archambault, Philip Valenzuela, Danny Mendoza, & Alyssa Hobson)

San Francisco, CA -- Coming off a new program steals record this past weekend, the Urban Knights were at it again defensively in Thursday's matinee against Western Oregon. Academy of Art University moved to 4-0 at Kezar Pavilion and 8-2 on the season with an 81-53 win over the Wolves in which ART U scored nearly half its points off turnovers. Propelled by senior Ariel Dale's 18 points and freshman Sha'Nice Storey's eight steals to tie the single-game program record, the Knights built an early lead and eventually grew it to beyond 40 points for the victory.

“We talked a lot after about defense after our last game,” head coach LaNay Larson said. “We set the steals record [in that one], but we didn't convert off a lot of them and I didn't like our defense in the half-court so our emphasis today was to put pressure on them in the full-court, get a lot of steals, and then convert off of those for easy baskets. I thought our half-court defense for the most part was greatly improved today. Our intensity was up and our effort was up.”

Western Oregon gained a 4-2 lead early in the afternoon matchup, but a 15-3 burst by Academy of Art quickly put them in command of a double digit advantage. Initial foul trouble for senior Jordan Rogers led to the opportunity for Storey who seized it almost immediately with a 3-pointer less than 10 seconds after checking in. Junior Alisa Griggs would add to the bench attack that would go on to outscore WOU 37-6.

The ART U lead fluctuated between double and single digits for a stretch before a basket by freshman Zoie Sheng off a feed from senior Katy Wade made it double figures permanently. From 21-11, the Urban Knights would take charge as freshman Regina Camera nailed a triple and Dale went to work. At one point in the opening half, it was an 8-0 run capped by a jumper from Dale to increase the advantage.

Though the Wolves fought back, a momentum-turning three-point play by Griggs was just the beginning of a six-point final minute by ART U to create a 40-19 halftime margin. It was just the second fewest points allowed by the Knights this season, two more than the 17 Notre Dame de Namur managed.

Academy of Art would shut down any possibility of a comeback with invigorated defense early in the second half. ART U held Western Oregon scoreless for more than a two-minute span where the lead grew to nearly 30 points. Wade blocked a pair of shots during that stretch where Storey and Dale provided a one-two punch offensively.

The Knights' lead would increase to not only 30 but rather 40 points as Academy of Art outscored the opposition 22-3 to start the second period. At one point, ART U forced six consecutive turnovers which led to a host of fastbreak points. Freshman Jasmin Guinn provided energy off the bench and eight points in the half to keep her squad in front as the advantage only briefly dropped below 30 points as the game approached its conclusion. In the end, the Knights would roll to an 81-53 victory, elevating them to 4-0 at home.

“Being undefeated at home is good for us,” Storey said. “Getting crowds to come to the games helps us and we are just focusing on everyone else at their home too.”

Reflecting the depth of Academy of Art University, three Urban Knights reached double figures in scoring. Dale posted 18 points (9-of-14 from the field) in addition to nine rebounds, four steals, and three assists. Storey's historic day came from her eight steals which tied the mark originally set by Devin London last season and was then matched by Dale as well. Storey also scored 13 points (including 3-of-6 from long range) while collecting three rebounds and two assists.

“I've been trying to read where the passes are going to go so that was my main focus and I think I did a pretty good job,” Storey said. “I was just really pumped up after I got my first steal and they kept coming.”

Guinn was efficient as ever off the bench with her 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the floor. For the third consecutive game, Camera logged three or more steals as she amassed five thefts Tuesday to go with nine points and four assists. Griggs and Wade each had nine points apiece and Sheng finished with six points complemented by five assists. Wade's five blocks in this one vaulted her to the top place in ART U single season history with 27 rejections thus far.

“[Western Oregon] likes the dribble penetration so we talked a lot about containing the dribble, contesting the shot, getting the rebound, and getting out and running. They played back-to-back [with last night's game] so I felt like we had the advantage as far as having fresh legs and we're a lot deeper team. We were able to score lot of points in transition off the turnovers.”

The Wolves, now 5-5 overall this season, had three players score in double figures led by Mariah Durian's 15 points. She was 6-of-6 from the foul line and added eight rebounds while Dana Goularte contributed 12 points and Melissa Fowler offered 10 points.

With their undefeated home record intact, the Knights will now head to Nevada for the Las Vegas Challenge (Dec. 18-19) where they face MIAA Conference members and women's basketball powerhouses Pittsburgh State and Central Missouri.

“We've got two huge games coming up with opponents from the MIAA,” Coach Larson said. “Pittsburgh State is a Top 10 team nationally and on a whole other level than anyone we've played so far. They are going to be a really tough matchup and Central Missouri was a Top 25 team until last week. Both of those teams are very well coached, very disciplined, and really solid basketball programs so it will be a really good measuring stick to see where we are in terms of a national level.”