SAN FRANCISCO – Facing Jessup for the second time in 10 days, Academy of Art women's basketball could not overcome the Warriors' early offense on Saturday afternoon inside Kezar Pavilion, falling 66-49.
Jessup opened the Pacific West Conference rematch up 11-2, but the margin would be cut down to four after multiple baskets from senior forward
Yasmine Sifaoui and junior guard
Alba Rovira Ayuso. Layups from senior forward/center
Christy Ojide Boiko and freshman guard
Violet Stutz helped shorten the difference in the final two minutes of the second quarter though the visitors found themselves in front 38-18 at the intermission.
Seven straight points including a three-point play by Ojide Boiko and free throws from sophomore guard
Maddie Morrow as well as Stutz quickly had the difference down to 13 less than four minutes into the second half before Jessup answered back and carried a 56-31 advantage into the fourth.
The final frame opened with another 7-0 run fueled by scores from redshirt freshman guard
Karereatua Williams, Stutz, and Sifaoui, however, the teams traded baskets the rest of the way and ultimately time ran out on a comeback with the Warriors prevailing 66-49.
"Today was difficult in the sense that Jessup got on the front foot early and really made it difficult for us to play in the fashion we are accustomed too," said Head Coach
Jesse Clark. "In a game that became about our execution in the second half, it was good to see us play better as the game finished."
ART U drops to 9-7 overall and 2-6 in PacWest matchups despite Stutz logging double-digit points with 11 plus six rebounds. Sifaoui added nine points and Morrow provided eight off the bench. Sophomore guard
Lucia Revenga dealt out three assists and sophomore guard
Anna Fornells swiped two steals.
Jessup, now 8-9 overall and 3-6 in conference play, relied heavily upon 17 points from Natalie Moulos and 12 points in addition to six steals from Brianna Byrnes.
"Our series with Jessup will be one where we can take note of the things we did well that produced success and the things that, if not executed, will expose our weaknesses," Clark said.
A four-part road swing begins with a 1 p.m. tip-off at Fresno Pacific on Monday, Jan. 20.
