BELMONT, Calif. – Facing an early deficit, Academy of Art women's basketball could not orchestrate a comeback against No. 18 Azusa Pacific, falling 88-53 inside Walter Gleason Gym on Saturday despite numerous individual season-highs.
The Pacific West Conference matchup opened with scores in each of the Cougars' first two possessions and soon the visitors held an 18-6 advantage. Consecutive three-point plays were then converted by sophomore guard
Jadence Clifton and junior guard
Ashana Hinds as the gap closed to six, but two 3-pointers powered an 8-0 finish to the quarter by APU, leading to a 26-15 score with the second quarter next.
It was not until the final three minutes of the frame that Azusa Pacific expanded its margin beyond 20 points as a 12-0 run was eventually stopped by a triple from freshman guard
Madison Johnson, but the Cougars answered in kind at the halftime buzzer for a 53-27 lead.
Long range success continued for the visitors in the second half with four triples in the final four minutes resulting in a 75-38 score with the fourth left to play. A layup by sophomore forward/center
Christy Ojide stopped a 6-0 start to the final quarter yet Azusa Pacific seemed to have an answer for each score on the other end. Seven unanswered points by the Urban Knights finished the game with APU on top 88-53.
Academy of Art, now 1-9 on the season and 1-3 in PacWest action, was led by 15 points apiece from Johnson and Hinds. The scoring total was a season-high for Hinds while Johnson, who knocked down five 3-pointers, added eight her own season-highs of eight rebounds and three steals in her first collegiate start. On top of three steals, Ojide's 16 rebounds were the most by an Urban Knight this season and bested her career-high by one. Clifton contributed 13 points with a season-best eight rebounds.
Picking up its seventh straight win, No. 18 Azusa Pacific rises to 10-2 overall and 5-0 in conference play. Amayah Kirkman paced the Cougars with 19 points (including five 3-pointers) while Molly Whitmore added 18 points.
Back on the court this Monday, Dec. 19, ART U is set to host Biola inside Walter Gleason Gym for ALS Awareness Day at 1 p.m. once again.
