KNIGHT WATCH
As conference play begins, ART U ranks second in the PacWest in both offense (79.8 points per game) and 3-point field goal percentage (.375) while moving up to third in assist-to-turnover ratio (0.90) as well. The squad is led by junior Krystal Forthan's 18.0 points (2nd in PacWest), 9.4 rebounds (6th in PacWest), and 2.0 blocks (7th in PacWest) per game all in just 22.1 minutes per contest. Her three double-doubles thus far have her 25th in the country and she is just one game removed from her best shooting performance of the year (fourth all-time) which saw her go 10-for-17 (.588) from the field against UC San Diego. Forthan is also 11 blocks away from passing Katy Wade's all-time career record of 76 rejections.

The junior class has been highly productive as well with Sha'Nice Storey (11.6 ppg), Zoie Sheng (11.3 ppg), and Regina Camera (11.0) ranked in the top 30 in the PacWest in scoring. Storey is shooting better than 50 percent from the 3-point line (16-for-31, .516) which has her 31st in the country. Sheng has been incredibly consistent free shooter, going 32-for-37 last week and averaging 7.3 trips to the foul line where she is shooting 88.2 percent this year. Up to 217 assists, Sheng is closing in on Sondra Stilwell's career record of 233. In terms of assists per game, Camera (3.0 apg) is just behind Sheng's 3.3 apg.

At the rate she is currently going (7.4 rebounds per game), junior Jasmin Guinn will pass Jessica Nolan for second on the program's career in approximately six games. Junior Caron Brown is taking down 6.0 rebounds in just 15.4 minutes per game off the bench.

NOTRE DAME NOTABLES
Through seven games, Notre Dame de Namur is 2-5 with its two wins coming over Pacific Union and SF State. NDNU started the year with losses to Simon Fraser and Cal State Monterey Bay in the same tournament with ART U then more recently fell 81-76 to Cal State Stanislaus in overtime. Over the Thanksgiving break, the Argos lost to Colorado School of Mines and Regis as well. As the top 3-point defense in the PacWest (opponents shooting just 25.7 percent against them) and the top in both steals (8.71 spg) and offensive rebounds (16.9 oreb/game), Notre Dame de Namur should not be taken lightly. Like Academy of Art, NDNU has four players averaging double figures in points per game with Nanea Woods (12.6), Maya Arellanes (12.0), Taylor Dewees (11.4), and Kirsten Liana (10.9) all threats to score. Woods averages a double-double with 10.1 rebounds per game and Liana is not far off at 9.3 rpg. The Urban Knights bring in an 8-2 all-time advantage into Saturday's matchup.

KNIGHTS SPLIT GAMES OVER THANKSGIVING WEEKEND
Down in Southern California for the UC San Diego Thanksgiving Classic last week, ART U downed tournament host UCSD 84-74 after being boosted by 26 bench points and two starters scoring 20+ points apiece. Forthan (22 points) and Sheng (20 points) led the way in a 47-point second half by the Urban Knights. The following afternoon, despite a strong second half and balanced production from its starting lineup, Academy of Art dropped an 83-74 result to Cal State San Bernardino. A 10-point first half Coyotes lead proved to be the difference while the tandem of Sheng and Storey each scored 19 points.

LOOKING AHEAD
ART U will finish off its non-conference season hosting Northwest Nazarene on Dec. 12 at 5:00 PM inside Kezar Pavilion. This game starts a three-part homestand that will feature California Baptist (Dec. 16) and Azusa Pacific (Dec. 20) as well.