OAKLAND, Calif. – Two of the highest quarter field goal percentages were turned in by Academy of Art women's basketball in the first and third frames as the Urban Knights had contributions up and down the roster in a 79-71 Pacific West Conference triumph over Dominican inside Laney College Gym on Thursday.

Trading numerous made shots, the teams combined to make six of their first eight shots from the field including multiple buckets by junior forward Yasmine Sifaoui. The Penguins pushed a 15-8 advantage on back-to-back 3-pointers, but were countered by consecutive triples from the Knights, coming from the hands of sophomore guard Alba Rovira Ayuso and graduate student guard Emilia Dougherty. Tied at 19-19 on another Dougherty 3-pointer with under two minutes to play in the first quarter, the game had DUC ahead 27-25 after junior forward/center Christy Ojide's second layup in the final sequence was converted with four seconds left.

Triples from Rovira Ayuso and freshman guard Maddie Morrow rained down in the opening minutes of the second frame as ART U jumped in front 31-29, but a four-point lead soon thereafter quickly shifted the other way with an 8-0 Dominican run. A 3-pointer by freshman guard Anna Fornells sparked the Knights' 6-0 response and the halftime score once again favored the visitors by two, 42-40.

After shooting over 57 percent from the field in the first quarter, Academy of Art upped that number to 58 percent in the third, making its first three baskets to force a 46-46 tie game. ART U was in front 50-46 minutes later following paint scores by freshman guard Lucia Revenga and Rovira Ayuso then proceeded to hold that advantage the rest of the way with key conversions by Rovira Ayuso and Morrow.

The Knights' margin increased to nine on a Sifaoui jumper less than three minutes into the fourth quarter, however, DUC made one last push, putting in eight unanswered points to cut it to a 67-66 contest. Missed shots on the Penguins end suddenly turned into scores the other way with graduate student guard Briana Baker-Bruce scoring high-percentage looks before four made free throws in the final 30 seconds sealed the 79-71 win.

"We were more composed this game and we didn't rush ourselves so that translated into better shots and decisions particularly in our last quarter," said Sifaoui. "We are very proud of this win and we have to keep the energy from this game for the next one."

ART U elevates to 5-18 on the year and 4-13 versus conference opponents with the victory after shooting season-bests of 46.8 percent from the floor (29-for-62) and 50 percent from beyond the three-point arc (8-for-16). A game-high 19 points (including 4-for-7 from long range) from Rovira Ayuso was complemented by six rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and one steal while Sifaoui provided 12 points and Morrow had nine points in 18 minutes off the bench. Ojide and Fornells each stuffed the stat sheet with three steals apiece as the former added eight points as well as six rebounds and the latter scored seven points in addition to distributing four assists.

"Our composure and attention to the details of our tactics on both ends of the court is something for us to be very proud of," said Head Coach Jesse Clark. "Dominican is an excellent team that is under consideration for the NCAA Tournament, so for our program this is a result that we can look to as in important part of our foundational building process."

Dominican drops to 18-8 on the season and 11-7 in PacWest play with the loss despite 18 points including four 3-pointers from Jenna Duley and 17 points plus 10 rebounds from Keyonee Neal.

On the road one last time this season, Academy of Art next tips off a rematch with Fresno Pacific inside the Sunbirds' Special Events Center this Saturday, Feb. 24 at 5 p.m.