HAYWARD, Calif. – Stingy defenses allowed just 13 points to be scored in the opening quarter of what would be a closely contested NCAA Division II West Regional quarterfinal between #8 seed Academy of Art women's basketball and #1 seed No. 15 Cal State East Bay through the first half. However, a momentum-shifting third quarter ended up being the difference as the Pioneers defeated the Urban Knights 67-49 to close ART U's memorable 2021-22 season.

"We felt like like we had good moments, but not enough of those moments [tonight]," said Head Coach Krystle Evans. "We have a lot to build and improve on, but we were beat by a better team today. Our job is to make sure we're not beat next time we're here. We expect to be back."

Though the Pioneers would convert a layup on their opening possession, the two teams combined for zero points over the next five minutes of game time. Both sides had opportunities, but missed shots and turnovers reflected the tough defense both teams had been known for this season. The Knights' first basket of the evening was a 3-pointer from junior guard Chanel Stuart and the ART U lead became 5-2 on a layup from freshman forward/center Christy Ojide thereafter. CSUEB scratched across points in the final three minutes, splitting free throws before taking just an 8-5 advantage into the second quarter.

The scoring began to pick up for both sides to begin the frame, but a 7-0 run by Cal State East Bay soon helped the home team push a double-digit margin. That surge was quickly stopped when redshirt freshman guard Kaila Murrell and redshirt sophomore guard/forward Hailey McCoy nailed back-to-back 3-pointers just before the two-minute mark. Murrell would knock down another, but a total of four free throws on the other end resulted in the Pioneers' 26-19 lead at the half.

An ominous 7-1 start to the third quarter returned CSUEB's advantage to double figures yet free throws plus a triple from Stuart kept things from getting out of hand. A stretch of four made shots in five Pioneer attempts then made it a 47-25 ballgame and that difference would remain into the fourth quarter.

Murrell and junior guard Lauryn Manns were the first Knights to find the basket in the opening two minutes of the final frame, but Cal State East Bay responded with four layups during a two-minute span in the game's late stages to keep themselves on track for the eventual 67-49 victory.

Academy of Art ends its 2021-22 campaign with an 18-11 overall record, nearly doubling its win total from 2019-20 and more than quadrupling its victories from 2018-19. Stuart's final game of her career saw her deliver a team-high 16 points including four 3-pointers, giving her 765 career points (eighth in ART U history) and 121 career triples made (third in ART U history). Murrell provided eight points and two 3-pointers of her own off the bench while Ojide collected 10 rebounds to lead all players.

Cal State East Bay, who advances to face No. 9 Azusa Pacific in tomorrow's West Regional semifinal round, pushes its overall record to 23-2. Three Pioneers finished scoring in double figures led by Mina Tameliau with 16 points plus eight rebounds.

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