BELMONT, Calif. – Sophomore forward/center
Alisha Wilson authored yet another spectacular performance Thursday night as she tied the Academy of Art women's basketball record with 14 field goals made en route to matching her career-high of 28 points while packing the stat sheet in what ended up being a 59-48 defeat at the hands of Concordia in the Pacific West Conference rematch.
Out of the gate, the Urban Knights were on fire, connecting on their first three shot attempts from the field including two high percentage looks for Wilson and a triple by sophomore guard
Jadence Clifton. The Golden Eagles responded with a 7-0 run, but that was met with six straight by ART U starting with a jumper from freshman guard
Kyla Wandick. Though Wilson had 10 points by the end of the opening quarter, CUI finished with another 7-0 push to take a 16-15 lead.
Success from long range gave the visitors an initial margin in the second, but it remained a one-possession game with just under two and a half minutes after successive scores from Wilson and Clifton. The sides went back and forth into the intermission where Concordia held a 34-28 advantage despite senior guard
Lauryn Manns converting a layup in the final minute.
The Knights came as close as four points with Wilson providing a layup less than 15 seconds into the third quarter, but momentum shifted in the five minutes approaching the fourth as CUI used a 9-4 run to go up 45-34. The Eagles continued to have no answer for Wilson who repeatedly delivered in the paint early in the final frame, yet their baskets on the other end managed to keep the difference at double digits for nearly the game's last nine minutes, securing a 59-48 victory in the end.
ART U, now 4-12 overall and 4-7 in PacWest play, saw Wilson not only achieve her 10th double-double of the season (24th in her career) and eighth straight, but also match her career-high with 28 points to go with 18 rebounds, three blocks, and three steals. The 14 field goals she made on 18 attempts tied the program record set by Tayler Bennett on Jan. 2, 2020 when she posted the second-highest point total ever by an Urban Knight (39 points). Clifton finished with 12 points and five assists.
The win, Concordia's eighth in a row, puts them at 13-4 on the season and 10-1 in conference play after Jasmine Rachal led the way with 14 points and the pair of Erika Maggard and Kayla Cabaccang added 10 points apiece off the bench.
Academy of Art next hosts Point Loma this Saturday, Jan. 21 at 1 p.m. back inside Walter Gleaston Gym.
