Game #14
ART U Urban Knights (2-11, 1-4 PWC) vs. Fresno Pacific Sunbirds (5-8, 3-2 PWC)
Saturday, December 30, 2017 at 2:30 p.m.
Fresno, Calif. – Special Events Center
Live Stats & Live Video

Game #15
ART U Urban Knights (2-11, 1-4 PWC) vs. Hawaii Pacific Sharks (8-2, 2-1 PWC)
Wednesday, January 3, 2018 at 4:30 p.m. HT (6:30 p.m. PT)
Honolulu – Neal S. Blaisdell Center
Live Stats & Live Video

Game #16
ART U Urban Knights (2-11, 1-4 PWC) vs. UH Hilo Vulcans (3-3, 1-3 PWC)
Friday, January 5, 2018 at 5 p.m. HT (7 p.m. PT)
Hilo, Hawaii – Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium
Live Stats & Live Video

CALENDAR YEAR ENDS IN FRESNO, NEW YEAR BEGINS IN HAWAII
Back in action after 11 days off from competition, Academy of Art University women's basketball takes on Fresno Pacific this Saturday then heads out to Hawaii for a pair of games next week against Hawaii Pacific and UH Hilo.

OPENING TIP
On Saturday, Dec. 30, ART U will wrap up its 2017 schedule with a Pacific West Conference contest inside Fresno Pacific's Special Events Center at 2:30 p.m. Next week, the Urban Knights begin their Hawaii roadtrip with HPU on Wednesday, Jan. 3 at 4:30 p.m. HT (6:30 p.m. HT) inside the Neal S. Blaisdell Center. The week concludes Friday, Jan. 5 on Hilo at 5 p.m. HT (7 p.m. PT) at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium. Live coverage will be available via the links above. Remember to follow @ARTU_Knights on Twitter & Instagram and "Like" the Urban Knights on Facebook for score updates, videos, and recaps.

KNIGHT WATCH
Continuing to gain extra possessions, Academy of Art remains the PacWest leader in offensive rebounds per game (14.9) and has moved up to second in steals (10.08). ART U deploys a three-part offensive attack with redshirt senior forward Pre'Franz Dominick (15.3 points per game), redshirt senior guard Jazzlynn Brewster (14.3 ppg), and senior forward Helena Orts (14.1 ppg) all averaging over 14.0 points per game to all rank among the conference's top 18 scorers. Dominick adds 10.2 rebounds per game (third in the PacWest) and the duo of Orts and Brewster have each held their places at second and third in the conference in steals per game at 2.8 and 2.7 respectively. Brewster also dishes out 4.5 assists per game, good for third in the PacWest, and Orts is sitting in the conference's eighth spot in rebounding (8.2) as well.

HERE COMES THE SUN(BIRDS)
After starting the year 0-3 with matchups against some of the top teams in the West Region, Fresno Pacific has looked better in PacWest play, winning three of five including its last two games against Biola and Holy Names. The Sunbirds come in averaging the third-most 3-pointers per game (7.9), defend the three well too (opponents average the second-lowest percentage at 26 percent), and are third in blocked shots per game (4.54). Megan Lee (12.2 ppg) is FPU's most dangerous threat from long range (2.4 3-pointers made per game) while Julia LoCastro ranks second in the PacWest in blocks per game (2.2). Academy of Art is a perfect 6-0 all-time against Fresno Pacific.

SHARK ATTACK
Although they are fifth in the PacWest standings at 2-1 thus far, Hawaii Pacific's 8-2 overall record is third among conference teams. The Sharks opened the year with a loss to then-ranked No. 4 Alaska Anchorage, but went on to win four straight prior to their first conference loss, a 62-57 result hosting Concordia. Another four consecutive wins ensued, leading into HPU's Jan. 3 matchup with Academy of Art. One of the top defensive teams in the PacWest, Hawaii Pacific leads the conference in field goal defense (opponents shoot just 36 percent from the field) and ranks top four in blocked shots (4.9 bpg) as well as steals (8.2 spg). For a Sharks team that also ranks second in the PacWest in 3-pointers made (8.3 per game), Janessa Manzano (12.2 ppg) comes in making 2.6 triples per contest while shooting at the highest rate in the conference (49.1 percent). A storied rivalry has seen 14 previous meetings between HPU and ART U with Hawaii Pacific leading the series 9-5.

VULCAN TOUGHNESS
Having played less than half the number of games as Academy of Art thus far, UH Hilo is 3-3 on the year week with half those contests coming in PacWest play. The Vulcans started by splitting with Alaska, defeated Biola for their first conference victory, and have since gone 1-2. Hilo will conclude a stretch of six of seven home games with Notre Dame de Namur (Jan. 3) and ART U (Jan. 5). No opponent has scored more than 67 points against UH Hilo, the PacWest's leader in scoring defense (opponents average just 60.0 ppg). Safia Sheikh is the Vulcans' top scorer at 14.8 points per game, doing so in large part by way of a PacWest-best 3.7 3-pointers per game. In 11 previous meetings, ART U leads UH Hilo 6-5.

POINT LOMA COMES FROM BEHIND TO DEFEAT KNIGHTS
Despite establishing a double-digit lead early in the second quarter, Academy of Art women's basketball was unable to counter a 17-4 Point Loma run which ultimately earned the Sea Lions a 94-62 win inside Kezar Pavilion on Dec. 18. ART U's senior tandem of guard Jazzlynn Brewster and forward Helena Orts combined for 36 points in the loss.

LOOKING AHEAD
A four-game homestand greets the Urban Knights when they return home from Hawaii in 2018. Dominican kicks things off on Jan. 10 and that matchup is followed by Holy Names (Jan. 13), Chaminade (Jan. 15), and Dixie State (Jan. 20).