SAN DIEGO – Scoring pushes of 7-0 and 8-0 in the first and second quarters respectively propelled Academy of Art women's basketball to its second straight Pacific West Conference victory, a 68-60 win over Point Loma, on this week's Southern California roadtrip. Junior guard Lauryn Manns' team-high 15 points paced four Urban Knights reaching double figures for the third consecutive game as ART U led for the contest's final 36 minutes.

Though the Sea Lions were ahead 6-2 to start, Academy of Art soon responded with seven unanswered on layups by Manns and freshman guard Brooke Rodgers before redshirt freshman guard Kaila Murrell nailed a 3-pointer. Wilson and Stuart converted high percentage looks to help make it a 12-2 momentum shift that put ART U on top 14-8. After trading baskets for the remainder of the quarter, the Knights carried an 18-14 lead to the second.

Much like the opening frame, Murrell got Academy of Art going with her second triple of the day on her team's first possession before the score changed dramatically from two points to 10 following an 8-0 run. Rodgers began the surge with two layups then freshman guard Alyssa Munn scored off the team's second consecutive turnover forced and set up freshman forward/center Christy Ojide for a layup to make it 29-19. The teams traded baskets over the final minute, but 3-pointers by junior guard Chanel Stuart and freshman guard Milan Tuttle finished off the Knights' 37-24 halftime advantage.

"Going into this game we talked about maintaining our defensive intensity," said Head Coach Krystle Evans. "Our intensity in our defense led to a double-digit lead at the half. Point Loma scores in bunches, they make six 3-pointers a game so going into the half up double digits is a confidence booster against a potent scoring team."

Early jumpers by Manns and freshman forward/center Alisha Wilson allowed ART U to keep the pressure on to open the second half. Academy of Art's leading margin did not dip into single digits for the third quarter's duration, even reaching 17 points three times on a triple by Munn and later on Murrell's two scores to send the Knights to the fourth up 54-37.

Another 3-pointer from Munn created a 16-point difference with a little over seven and a half left in regulation, but a furious 11-2 rebuttal came from PLNU bring them within seven at the 1:11 mark. A game of free throws the rest of the way, Academy of Art was able to stay ahead by four points or more, eventually wrapping up the 68-60 victory.

Now winners of two straight, ART U rises above .500 to 5-4 on the season and 2-1 in PacWest action. Manns matched her season-high with 15 points for the second straight outing while Munn contributed 12 points with four assists. Wilson broke her own record for most rebounds by a freshman with 18 (tied for fifth-most in Academy of Art history) along with nine points on 4-for-5 shooting, four blocks, and two steals. Rodgers and Murrell each had 10 points and Stuart ended with eight rebounds plus four steals.

"Our biggest strength is our depth," Evans said. "We have a roster full of playmakers. Our selflessness leads to balanced scoring. I'm so proud of how we are setting each other up and celebrating each other."

Point Loma, 6-4 overall and 2-2 in conference play, got a game-high 18 points from Alix Henderson, but she was the only Sea Lion to score in double figures as the rest of the team shot just over 34 percent from the field collectively. Cara Liggins added 13 rebounds.

Academy of Art finishes its stretch of three games in six days this Tuesday, Dec. 14 when the Knights host No. 10 Western Washington at Walter Gleason Gym in Belmont at 6 p.m.

"Going into our game against Western Washington, we are focused on maintaining our defensive intensity and staying committed to our goal of getting better each day," Evans said.