Box Score

San Francisco, CA – After amassing a 10-point lead thanks to a 12-0 run midway through the first half, ART U Women's Basketball took care of business with a 74-64 victory against UH Hilo Monday evening. The Vulcans made a comeback attempt late in the second half, but the Urban Knights never let their opponent closer than seven points thanks to big games from Krystal Forthan (20 points, 10 rebounds, six blocks) and Zoie Sheng (18 points).

Though ART U briefly held a 9-5 lead in the early going, UH Hilo was ahead 10-9 at the first media timeout. The Urban Knights came out of the break playing inspired basketball as a layup by Sheng followed by a Forthan jumper began to build a run. Soon, Sheng converted at the foul line and Jasmin Guinn picked up a steal at half court and scored on a breakaway layup. Finally, Guinn set up Sheng for a triple and the 12-0 surge had Academy of Art up 21-10 less than 10 minutes in.

The Vulcans had ART U's advantage down to seven points with a 8:23 to play, but Forthan followed with dynamic sequence  in which she blocked a shot, then came down to fight through a foul that occurred beyond the arc and converted three free throws. That essentially summed up the type of game it was Monday evening inside Kezar Pavilion with Academy of Art's largest crowd of the season looking on.

For the final five minutes, the Knights did not relinquish a double-digit margin thanks to a pair of triples by Sha'Nice Storey and points off the bench by Molly O'Brien. Hilo's McKenzie Mangino tossed in a pair of free throws late in the first half to make it a 10-point separation by ART U at the half, 41-31.

Forth, Storey, and the Urban Knights remained on fire to start the second period. Regina Camera set up Forthan on Academy of Art's first possession then later Forthan administered back-to-back blocks of the Vulcans. As UH Hilo kept hanging around, Camera knocked down a 3-pointer on a fast break to push her team up by 17 with 13 minutes left.

ART U was in prime position, but that soon changed when a 9-0 UHH run led mostly by Kirstie Williams more than halved the lead. Up 52-44 at the 8:06 mark, tried to get back its cushion with a layup from Aleigh Krug, but Williams came back with a triple to bring Hilo within seven. Over the next four critical minutes, Academy of Art made its shots count with high-percentage baskets by Alisa Griggs, O'Brien, and Forthan. The Knights eventually used an 8-3 push to get back into a double-digit margin and converted free throws for the 74-64 victory.

The Urban Knights improve to 11-6 overall and 8-1 in PacWest play. Forthan, in her first home game for ART U, finished with 20 points on 8-of-16 shooting from the field. She added 10 rebounds for her third double-double of the year and six blocks to tie the program's single-game record set by Katy Wade on Nov. 24, 2012 against Central Washington. Forthan was complemented by Sheng's 18 points which included an 11-of-12 game at the foul line. Storey added 12 points and seven rebounds while O'Brien chipped in eight points and seven rebounds off the bench.

UH Hilo, who falls to 6-7 overall and 5-4 in the PacWest, was led by Williams' 19 points and a double-double by Mangino (15 points, 11 rebounds).

ART U continues its homestand this Thursday, Jan. 23 when Chaminade comes to Kezar Pavilion for a Bay Area rematch. Last time these two teams met, the Urban Knights defeated the Silverswords 120-69. Sign up for the Fan Bus here!