SAN DIEGO – The Pacific West Conference Southern California road trip for Academy of Art women's basketball concluded with a milestone as junior forward/center
Christy Ojide achieved the program's new career blocks record despite ART U's 70-54 defeat at Point Loma's hand inside Golden Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.
Going back and forth early, the two teams exchanged three leads before a 3-pointer by graduate student guard
Emilia Dougherty was met with a 6-0 Sea Lions run to end the opening quarter with their 17-9 advantage. The first eight points of the second frame belonged to Academy of Art as freshman guard
Anna Fornells' free throws combined with a layup from sophomore guard
Alba Rovira Ayuso and two high-percentage buckets for freshman guard
Lucia Revenga.
From a 17-17 tie, PLNU managed to rebuild a 29-23 halftime lead while junior forward
Yasmine Sifaoui scored the final six points of the second quarter for Academy of Art. Though freshman guard
Maddie Morrow's triple helped return to difference to six midway through the third, a 12-0 run helped Point Loma to a 51-33 margin heading to the fourth. Along the way, however, Ojide rejected two shots on the same Sea Lions possession to become the ART U career leader in blocks in just her third season with the program.
"We are all very proud of Christy and her individual accomplishment is the result of her hard work and growth within the framework of our defensive tactics," said Head Coach
Jesse Clark. "It is a tremendous luxury as a program to have her presence on the court."
Converting 11 straight points to start the fourth quarter, PLNU pushed a 62-33 advantage and though the remainder of the game saw the Knights outscore 21-8, time ran out on the comeback at 70-54.
The Urban Knights move to 4-15 on the year and 3-10 versus PacWest opponents. Tying her career high from the second game of the season, Fornells finished with a team-best 16 points, plus five assists, three rebounds, and three steals. Sifaoui also reached double figures offensively with 12 points, four rebounds, two blocks, and two steals while Revenga's eight points came with three steals as well. Ojide, who surpassed
Katy Wade's career blocks record (76), matched her career-high with four rejections.
Up to 13-9 overall and 9-5 in conference play, Point Loma was paced by Tavia Rowell's game-high 22 points to go with four assists and two steals.
"We came out tonight with great intention and focus and put together another quality first half against a Point Loma team that is playing very well," Clark said. "We need to rise to the challenge in the third quarter and sustain these starts. This is something we will address and continue to work on this week in practice."
A four-part homestand is now on the horizon for ART U with a rematch hosting Westmont up first on Thursday, Feb. 8 at 5 p.m. from Laney College in Oakland.
