SAN FRANCISCO – Saturday afternoon's Pacific West Conference women's basketball matchup between Academy of Art and Concordia (Calif.) had no shortage of drama inside Kezar Pavilion. A game that saw the lead change hands 18 times culminated with numerous game-saving plays and seven clutch ART U free throws in overtime for the 96-93 victory. Four Urban Knights scored in double figures led by 24 apiece from junior guard Pam Wilmore and graduate student guard Tayler Bennett.

"It was an exciting game," said head coach Krystle Evans. "Both teams played fast-paced and we enjoyed it. We thrive in a game like that, spreading the floor and getting deep paint touches which Pam has been doing all season. For us, it was just doing what we do well, sticking to the script, and staying disciplined."

Coming off 16 made 3-pointers in her previous two games, Bennett stayed hot by opening the game with a triple and Wilmore added four for a 7-2 start. The Eagles came back to tie at 7-7, but an 8-0 push with a pair of buckets from freshman forward Aari'yanna Sanders once again had Academy of Art in control. CUI rallied for another tie, however, ART U made four of its final six shots (including two 3-pointers from senior guard Josselyn Morris) to end the quarter up 27-26.

Concordia used its own 8-0 run to go up 34-27 at the start of the second, but an 11-2 response late in the quarter was capped by a game-tying Bennett triple. Wilmore scored in the final minute and the difference was 48-45 Eagles at the halftime buzzer.

The lead quickly shifted back to the Knights after senior guard Brianna Cates converted a pair of shots to begin the third and, as a CUI repeatedly tried to create separation, Academy of Art continued to have answers. Bennett's third 3-pointer had ART U within one midway through and a Morris triple less than a minute later tied the game at 59-59. Ending the quarter on a 7-2 surge had Concordia ahead 69-63 heading to the fourth.

Cates kept her team within striking distance after Wilmore found her for a 3-pointer on the Knights' opening fourth quarter possession. As the game headed into the late stages, Academy of Art scored seven unanswered with Morris and junior guard/forward Lily Perkins notching back-to-back steals resulting in transition layups. As she had done all game, Wilmore got into the paint for a layup with 50 seconds left, tying the game 83-83. A huge offensive rebound by Sanders then kept ART U's go-ahead opportunity alive and she proceeded to convert a layup with five seconds left, but a buzzer-beating layup by CUI shockingly sent the contest into overtime.

Concordia had a one-point advantage early in overtime, but that was soon erased by a 5-0 run from the Knights highlighted by Morris' three-point play conversion. Two more steals down the stretch proved crucial for ART U four free throws from Perkins and Morris helped build a 94-90 lead with 15 seconds remaining. The Eagles continued to fight, coming back with a 3-pointer to cut it to 94-93 with 10 seconds left, but Sanders once again came up clutch on the offensive glass with a rebound that denied CUI a final opportunity to potentially win and the victory belonged to Academy of Art 96-93 when the dust settled.

Winning for the third time in their past four games, the Urban Knights improve to 5-5 overall and 3-3 in PacWest play. Both Bennett and Wilmore finished with 24 points and eight rebounds apiece. Wilmore added eight assists to nearly log the first triple-double in program history. Making four 3-pointers on the day, Morris delivered 17 points while Sanders contributed her second double-double of the year with a season-best 16 points and 11 rebounds to tie her season-high.

The loss, Concordia's first in conference action this season, put the Eagles at 6-4 on the year and 4-1 in PacWest matchups. Michaela Vanderklugt finished with game-highs of 34 points and 24 rebounds while both Kennedy Fulcher (12 points, 13 rebounds) and Lainie James (16 points and 11 rebounds) each offered double-doubles.

Starting a stretch of four straight road contests, Academy of Art takes on Holy Names in Oakland on Tuesday, Jan. 7 at 5:30 p.m.