SAN FRANCISCO – Academy of Art women's basketball finished off the calendar year with a bang, breaking multiple program records in a 123-89 Pacific West Conference victory over Dominican on New Year's Eve day inside Kezar Pavilion. Senior guard Josselyn Morris erupted for 33 points including a new ART U record nine 3-pointers and graduate student guard Tayler Bennett added 25 points with seven triples in the Urban Knights' highest scoring output (123 points) and most 3-pointers (21) made to date.

In a fitting sign of things to come, freshman forward Aari'yanna Sanders knocked down the first 3-pointer of her career to give Academy of Art a lead that they would not relinquish the rest of the afternoon. Junior guard Pam Wilmore converted back-to-back layups and soon Bennett hit a pair of triples during a 9-2 run that helped the home team build an 18-10 advantage. The opening quarter ended with a 3-pointer from senior guard Brianna Cates and Morris tossing in three free throws after she was fouled beyond the arc.

The margin grew beyond double figures early in the second frame as Cates and Bennett scored from distance on consecutive possessions. Junior guard/forward Lily Perkins thrived in the paint, making three baskets amid a 15-0 push then Morris caught fire from long range with three 3-pointers in the final five minutes of the half. The Knights finished the second quarter on a 12-3 surge that had them just 10 points from their season-high, leading 69-41 at the break.

The Penguins scored the first two buckets of the third, but the game's narrative did not change with Bennett nailing three triples over the course of the first seven minutes. Back-to-back 3-pointers from senior guard/forward Ines Medina and Morris kept the lead north of 30 points as the period concluded.

A 10-2 start to the fourth saw Morris' sixth make from long range raise the difference to 41 points at 103-62. Morris remained on absolute fire, hitting three more deep shots including the team's 21st 3-pointer to break the program's single-game record of 15 set against Hawaii Pacific in 2013. Ultimately a three-point play conversion by Morris and a free throw from Medina got ART U to 123 points, passing the previous record of 120 which came versus Chaminade in 2014 and earning the victory.

"I'm just proud of the team," said head coach Krystle Evans. "We executed and I thought Pam did a great job of getting deep paint touches and her shooters open. And the shooters did their job. They set their feet, they were confident, and they hit their shots. Shooters shoot."

After notching its second consecutive PacWest win, Academy of Art pulls an even 4-4 overall and 2-2 in conference matchups. Keying a program record .636 shooting percentage from long range, Morris' nine 3-pointers broke the program's previous record of eight achieved by Sha'Nice Storey twice in 2013 and the senior's career-high 33 points were the fourth-most in ART U history, two off the record of 35 set by Jasmin Guinn in 2015. With a season-best seven triples, Bennett logged 25 points (one shy of her season-high) and Wilmore contributed 14 points (8-of-12 from the field) with season-highs of eight assists and five steals.

Cates tied her career-high with three 3-pointers as part of 14 points scored while Perkins added 14 points of her own plus six rebounds. The fifth Academy of Art player to score in double figures, Sanders posted 10 points with seven rebounds and a season-high five steals. Medina came off the bench to nearly collect a double-double with eight points and nine rebounds. A season-high 16 steals for the Knights led to 29 points off 25 total Dominican turnovers.

The Penguins drop to 4-7 overall and 1-4 in conference play despite a 33-point, nine-rebound effort from Jerusha Paine.

ART U begins 2020 with a PacWest matchup hosting Azusa Pacific on Jan. 2 at 1 p.m. back inside Kezar Pavilion.