SAN FRANCISCO – Tied at 76 with a minute and a half left to play, Academy of Art University women's basketball closed out an 84-79 win over Notre Dame de Namur on an 8-3 run Sunday afternoon inside Kezar Pavilion. Senior guard Alana Simon posted career-highs across the board and hit a huge 3-pointer with just over a minute left to give ART U a permanent lead.

Though NDNU went on multiple runs early on, jumping out to an 8-2 lead to start, then adding a 10-0 push after three consecutive baskets by junior forward Helena Orts had retied the game. The Urban Knights had the margin down to three points on multiple occasions in the second quarter before a 7-0 run capped by Simon's triple gave Academy of Art a 31-29 lead. Simon would knock down another before the half, but the visitors closed on an 8-3 run to enter halftime up 39-36.

Orts produced offensively to keep ART U close early in the third then freshman forward Elle Williams and junior guard Hayley Pryor took turns scoring as the Knights took another lead at 55-54. However, NDNU was once more the leader at the conclusion of three quarters, up 58-55.

Two baskets by junior guard Jazzlynn Brewster opened the fourth quarter on a strong note and soon Academy of Art caught fire from beyond the three-point arc. Simon hit two and Brewster added another to take the Knights from down two to up six, 70-64, with 5:13 left. A steady 10-4 run by the Argos eventually tied things up 74-74 at 2:19 before Simon's pair of jumpers, the second of which was a clutch corner triple, put ART U in front 79-76. Free throws by Simon, Brewster, and Pryor then sealed the 84-79 victory.

The win pushes Academy of Art to 11-7 overall and 7-3 in the PacWest, effectively passing NDNU for fourth place in the conference standings. Simon's 25 points (5-for-8 from long range), 10 rebounds, five assists, and three blocks were all career-highs. Orts was one point shy of her own career-high with 24 points (12-for-17 from the field) plus eight rebounds. Brewster was the third Urban Knight to score double figures, adding nine rebounds, six assists, and three steals to her 11 points.

Notre Dame de Namur falls to 9-9 overall and 7-4 in conference play. Four Argos scored in double figures led by Marissa Caballero's 20 points and 18 from Jerusha Paine.

ART U will complete its three-part homestand with a rematch hosting Fresno Pacific this Wednesday, Jan. 25. Tipoff is slated for 5:30 p.m. inside Kezar Pavilion.