HAYWARD, Calif. – Academy of Art women's basketball began its 2018-19 season with a tough 92-62 loss to Concordia inside Pioneer Gym on Friday afternoon as part of the Cal State East Bay Veteran's Day Classic. In her first official game as an Urban Knight, junior guard
Brianna Cates posted 21 points while freshman guard
Chanel Stuart debuted with 13 points and 13 rebounds.
In the early going, a 7-0 run by the Cavaliers created an initial separation, but a layup from Cates and 3-pointer by junior forward
Ines Medina cut into the margin. Concordia, however, would execute another push, extending its lead by 10 more points. Cates would convert free throws down the stretch and the opening quarter concluded with CU ahead 29-16.
Senior guard
Inga Kot nailed a triple to stop the Cavaliers' 9-0 run at the start of the second quarter, but Concordia continued to shoot at a 50 percent clip and wrapped up the opening half on top 54-32. An efficient effort by Cates came in the form of 15 points over her 16 first half minutes.
ART U began to surge back by way of a 10-2 run early in the third quarter highlighted by 3-pointers from junior guard
Josselyn Morris and Stuart, but a 16-0 response came from the Cavaliers and the difference reached 30 points shortly before the end of the frame.
"We had a lot of individual play when we were trying to come back, but when we started to work together as a team, it benefited us to get more open looks at three-point shots," said head coach
Camille Williams. "The toll and our numbers were to our disadvantage in this game."
Back-to-back layups by Morris gave some life to a Knights comeback in the fourth, but Concordia would push its lead back to 30 thereafter and finished on top 92-62.
Academy of Art starts the year 0-1, but had some impressive performances with Cates scoring 21 points and Stuart offering a double-double in the form of 13 points and 13 rebounds in her collegiate debut.
Concordia, 1-0 to open its 2018-19 campaign, was led by Erin Higbie's 17 points in 17 minutes which came in addition to a 10-point, 12-rebound double-double from Iraide Juez.
"Looking into the next game, it's more about effort and building that work ethic that we had against the DI programs in the exhibitions," said Williams. "We have proven ourselves to be in good shape, we just didn't display it today."
The Urban Knights will be back inside Pioneer Gym tomorrow when they face Western Oregon at noon.
