Game #16
ART U Urban Knights (12-3, 5-0 PWC) vs. UH Hilo Vulcans (7-6, 4-3 PWC)
Saturday, January 19, 2013 at 1:00 PM
San Francisco, CA – Kezar Pavilion
Live Stats | Live Audio

Game #17
ART U Urban Knights (12-3, 2-0 PWC) vs. HPU Sea Warriors (8-3, 4-1 PWC)
Monday, January 21, 2013 at 5:00 PM
San Francisco, CA – Kezar Pavilion
Live Stats | Live Audio

ART U OPENS THREE-GAME HOMESTAND FEATURING HAWAII REMATCHES
Currently the only undefeated team atop the Pacific West Conference (5-0), Academy of Art University carries its momentum from a historic Hawaii road sweep into the upcoming homestand which begins Saturday. ART U took all three games in Hawaii to start 2013 and has now won six of its last seven coming into its meetings with UH Hilo (Jan. 19), Hawaii Pacific (Jan. 21), and Chaminade (Jan. 26).

OPENING TIP
The Urban Knights resume PacWest Conference action at home this Saturday, Jan. 19 against UH Hilo. That contest is scheduled to tip off at 1:00 PM. Two days later, ART U hosts Hawaii Pacific at 5:30 PM. Both games will be played inside Kezar Pavilion. Live Stats and Live Audio will be available. Remember to follow @ARTU_Knights on Twitter and "Like" the Urban Knights on Facebook for score updates, videos, and recaps.

NATIONAL RANKINGS: DOMINANT DEFENSE
At a difference of 11.07 turnovers per game, Academy of Art University sits atop all of NCAA Division II in turnover margin. Thus far, the Knights have forced 409 turnovers while only committing 243 themselves. ART U also sits at fourth overall in the nation in steals per game average (15.2 spg) and to fifth in scoring average (79.9 ppg), a 14-spot increase after Hawaii. Adding to their top marks, Academy of Art is averaging 4.9 blocks per game (19th in NCAA DII), 17.2 assists per game (18th in NCAA DII), and a 1.06 assist-to-turnover ratio (21st in NCAA DII) which increased dramatically in Hawaii.

KNIGHT WATCH
Following the previous two games in Hawaii, junior Alisa Griggs and freshman Sha'Nice Storey were each named to the PacWest Conference Weekly Fantastic 15. Griggs recorded her first double-double of the season against BYU-Hawaii and played extremely efficient minutes in both contests. Storey set the new program scoring record with 31 points and eight 3-pointers most recently versus Chaminade. Storey is now 15th in the PacWest in scoring for the season (12.1 ppg) as well as Top 6 in both three-point field goal percentage (37.1%) and three-point field goals made (2.2). Senior Jordan Rogers, who broke out for a career-high 26 points at Hawaii Pacific, now ranks seventh in the PacWest in scoring at 14.1 points per game as well as fifth in free throw percentage (78.6%) in steals (2.6 spg). Continuing to build upon the program's new single-season blocks record (37), senior Katy Wade now ranks third in the PacWest in blocks (2.5 bpg) and fifth in rebounding (9.1 rpg).

ADORNED IN THE USA (WEEK 7)
Academy of Art University made its seventh appearance on the most recent release of the USA TODAY Sports Division II Top 25 women's basketball poll as determined by the USA Sports board of coaches, 33 members of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). The Urban Knights have now defeated three opponents from the GNAC, two from the CCAA, two from the MIAA, and five from their own PacWest Conference to make them 7-of-7 in appearances on this distinguished poll certifying the nation's elite women's basketball programs.

VULCAN SISTER ACT
As the one team Academy of Art did not face while in Hawaii earlier this month, UH Hilo has remained middle-of-the-pack in the PacWest standings, but has been on more of an upswing lately. The Vulcans started conference play 0-2 despite beginning the regular season 2-0 with wins over Chaminade (90-62) and Minnesota State-Moorhead (67-66). UH Hilo finished non-conference action by splitting a pair with Central Washington then going 4-1 to resume PacWest play in January. The Vulcans come into Saturday's contest having edged Fresno Pacific (54-52) and Notre Dame de Namur (62-41) on this final mainland trip of the regular season. Hilo is led by the sister tandem of Kamie and Kirsty Imai who contribute 12.1 and 9.4 points per game respectively. Both are starters and on three occasions in the last four outings, Kirsty has led the team in scoring and Kamie in rebounding (7.0 rpg). ART U has been evenly matched with UH Hilo historically, splitting with the Vulcans last year and winners of three of seven total meetings.

SEEING WARRIORS ON THE HORIZON
In three games since falling to ART U 85-68, the Sea Warriors have enjoyed a three-game win streak with home victories over Notre Dame de Namur (84-58), Dominican (61-54), and Chaminade (85-71). That stretch raises them to 8-3 overall, but they still trail the Knights, #18 Grand Canyon, and California Baptist in the PacWest standings. After back-to-back 20+ point games, Susannah Walmsley remains just outside the Top 50 scorers in NCAA Division II with a 17.3 points per game average. She continues to offer a deadly shot from distance, making long range shots at a PacWest leading 43.5% clip (40th in NCAA DII). Ieva Nagy is also a threat from outside, adding 11.9 points per game (42.6% from beyond the three-point arc). All that said, it was Skye Savini who led the Sea Warriors with 15 points in their last game against Academy of Art. ART U has now won the last two matchups in a seven-part all-time series with HPU.

ART U SWEEPS HAWAII FOR SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR
On its second trip to Hawaii in the past two years, Academy of Art University not only built upon its perfect conference record, but did so with new program records in each of the three games. Starting with a new three-point field goals made mark (15) and a career-high 26 points from Rogers on Jan. 5, the Knights pushed past Hawaii Pacific 85-68 before dealing out a new assists record in the 85-80 grind-it-out win over BYU-Hawaii on Jan. 7. Finally, the Urban Knights dominated Chaminade 91-49 on Jan. 9 behind a new program scoring record for Storey. Coach Larson and Academy of Art are now 7-0 in Hawaii over her two seasons at the helm.

LOOKING AHEAD
One more contest will finish off this January homestand for ART U on Jan. 26. The Urban Knights are in action that Saturday against Chaminade for a Bay Area rematch. From there, Academy of Art heads to Southern California for a three-game roadtrip.