FRESNO, Calif. – After leading by double digits four minutes into Sunday's Pacific West Conference matchup, Academy of Art women's basketball held a lead until late in the third quarter when Fresno Pacific completed a comeback that ultimately forced overtime. Layups and free throws ended up being the difference in a 69-67 final as ART U, the designated home team, fended off the Sunbirds despite the game taking place inside FPU's Special Events Center. Every Urban Knight to play in the contest scored, notched at least one steal, and at least three rebounds.

"I am extremely proud of this team," said Head Coach Krystle Evans. "Heading into each game the month of February, we've studied historical African Americans. Last night we learned about Sojourner Truth. We chose her because we knew this game would take guts. It took courage and guts for Truth to become the first Black woman to win a lawsuit in the United States. So throughout today's game we referenced the gutsy attitude and fortitude of Sojourner Truth. Each person suited up showed guts. To win in overtime with seven players and one of them fouling out in the fourth, that's toughness. That's guts."

The first 10 points of the afternoon were scored by Academy of Art as freshman guard Milan Tuttle and redshirt sophomore guard/forward Hailey McCoy's 3-pointers book-ended the hot start. Though Fresno Pacific worked its way back to a 13-7 deficit by the quarter's conclusion, ART U held the Sunbirds to just three made field goals out of the gate.

Approaching the midpoint of the second quarter, the Knights had their advantage back to double digits at 21-11 with conversions from junior guard Lauryn Manns and freshman forward/center Alisha Wilson in the paint and from Tuttle at the foul line. Freshman guard Brooke Rodgers' jumper gave way to a triple by Manns and fastbreak free throws from McCoy during a 7-2 run, but FPU closed the half on its own 8-2 push to climb to within five points, 30-25, at the break.

ART U's lead fluctuated between two points and as many as seven during the opening six minutes of the second period before Fresno Pacific briefly moved in front thanks to an 8-0 run exclusively from Felicia Dourva. Academy of Art responded with a 7-2 response powered by a triple from redshirt freshman Kaila Murrell and the Knights were back in front 47-43 heading to the fourth.

Five straight FPU points began the frame, but the see-saw continued with a 6-0 ART U run capped by freshman forward/center Christy Ojide's layup. A 3-pointer from Manns and a jumper just over a minute later helped set up Academy of Art for a five-point advantage with 44 seconds left, yet two Sunbird layups shortened the gap then free throws with two seconds left ended up forcing overtime with the teams knotted up at 61-61.

"Going into overtime, we had to mentally regroup," Evans said. "We were disappointed in our mistakes that led to us going into overtime, but we weren't going to take for granted to right our wrongs. Our mental toughness was key."

Wilson opened the extra period with a steal and transition layup, but FPU also led briefly thereafter. A free throw and layup from Murrell were supported by another foul line conversion from Tuttle as ART U was then up by three with 23 seconds left. Though Fresno Pacific was once more within a single point under 15 seconds on the clock, Tuttle put in a free throw and the 69-67 margin held up following Dourva's game-tying miss at the buzzer.

ART U rises to 14-9 overall and 11-5 in PacWest play to once again tie Biola, ironically the team it will face next, for fourth in the standings. Manns posted her second scoring season-high in her last three games with 24 points on 10-for-17 shooting from the field plus four rebounds. Tuttle tied two of her season-highs with eight rebounds and five steals to go with 16 points while Rodgers had her own multi-faceted effort with six rebounds, five assists, four points, and two blocks. With her 12th double-double taking the form of 10 points and 10 rebounds off the bench, Wilson ties Jessica Nolan (2010-11) for the program's fifth-most double-doubles in a single season.

Fresno Pacific drops to 7-13 on the season and 4-11 in conference action. In a team-high 40 minutes on the court, Dourva led the Sunbirds with 16 points, but also added six of FPU's 19 turnovers as well.

With the final regular season home game for Academy of Art coming up next, so does Senior Night recognition of guard/forward Ladun Akako and guard Chanel Stuart prior to a Feb. 24 rematch hosting Biola inside Walter Gleason Gym this Thursday.

"Going into our game against Biola, emotional IQ is key," Evans said. "We know the magnitude of the game, and it's Senior Night so emotions will be high, but we can't let our emotions get the best of us."