Game #21
ART U Urban Knights (10-10, 3-9 PacWest) vs. Dominican Penguins (15-9, 9-4 PacWest)
Wednesday, February 5, 2025 at 5 p.m.
San Francisco – Kezar Pavilion
Live Stats | Live Video

Game #22
ART U Urban Knights (10-10, 3-9 PacWest) vs. Menlo Oaks (11-9, 7-6 PacWest)
Saturday, February 8, 2025 at 1 p.m.
San Francisco – Kezar Pavilion
Live Stats | Live Video

FIRST MEETING WITH PENGUINS, MENLO REMATCH IN WEEK AHEAD
Fresh off sweeping its season series with Chaminade in Hawaii, Academy of Art women's basketball prepares to play its first Pacific West Conference home games since mid-January with Dominican and Menlo the next two matchups.

TIP-OFF
When the Urban Knights face the Penguins, it will be at 5 p.m. this Wednesday, Feb. 5 and, in the pairing with the Oaks, the Saturday, Feb. 8 tip time is slated for 1 p.m. both inside Kezar Pavilion. This weekend's action comes along with ART U's second annual Women's Empowerment Day. Remember to follow @ARTU_Knights via the athletics app (Apple App Store, Google Play Store) and on Twitter & Instagram, as well as "Like" the Urban Knights on Facebook for score updates, videos, and recaps.

KNIGHT WATCH
Having reached double-digit victories to start the month of February, Academy of Art has topped SF State (Nov. 8), Cal State Monterey Bay (Nov. 9), Cal Maritime (Nov. 12), Stanislaus State (Nov. 16), Sonoma State (Nov. 21), UC Merced (Dec. 1), Chaminade (Dec. 21), Jessup (Jan. 8), Lincoln (Calif.) (Jan. 11), and CUH once again (Feb. 1) in their 2024-25 season. The Knights are firmly the conference leaders in terms of lowest opponent field goal percentage (.342) while also ranking second in rebounds (41.7) per game and fourth in both assists (12.8) and blocks per contest (3.7).

With at least seven different players scoring over the last 20 consecutive games (26 straight dating back to the end of last year), ART U has spread the wealth with seven Knights averaging more than 5.0 points per contest. Senior forward Yasmine Sifaoui serves as the squad's leading scorer at 10.0 points per game (22nd in PacWest) with the conference's third-highest field goal percentage (.482). while junior guard Alba Rovira Ayuso (8.9 points per game) comes off back-to-back double-doubles which included a career-high 12 rebounds versus UH Hilo. Presenting scoring threats up and down the roster, senior forward/center Christy Ojide Boiko (7.6), redshirt freshman guard Karereatua Williams (6.6), and the trio of sophomore guards Lucia Revenga (6.3),Maddie Morrow (both 5.6), and Anna Fornells (5.3) all average over 5.0 points per game.

Along with her team-high 5.9 rebounds per game, Ojide Boiko (0.8) is the second Knight inside the PacWest's top 13 in blocks per game along with freshman forward Keira Mitchell who is up to fifth at 1.2 rejections per contest. Ojide Boiko's 582 career rebounds have given her sole possession of third-most in Academy of Art history while her 336 defensive boards are just four away from the fourth position and her 246 on the offensive glass are also four away from second. Revenga is another among the PacWest leaders at 2.6 assists (ninth) and 1.7 steals per contest (13th).

PERSPECTIVE ON PENGUINS
As Dominican comes into this week having won four straight including road victories at Biola, Chaminade, and Hawaii Pacific, the Penguins carry a 9-4 conference record composed of a three-game losing streak to start PacWest play followed by nine wins in their last 10 contests. First in the conference in defensive rebounds per game (29.7) and second in free throw percentage (.758), Dominican is paced offensively by Alaiyah San Juan's 13.0 points per contest (11th in PacWest) which includes her .883 free throw clip (second in PacWest) as well as Taylor Linzie's 9.4 rebounds per game (fourth in PacWest). Though the Penguins have had the edge more recently, the all-time series between ART U and DU favors the former 20-12.

MORE MENLO
Matching up just two weeks ago on Jan. 25, Menlo prevailed over Academy of Art 64-42 and went on to defeat both Hawaii Pacific and UH Hilo on the road to extend a now four-game win streak. The Oaks, who host Biola this Thursday, remain third in the PacWest in turnover margin (3.2) thanks in large part to 10.1 steals per game (second in PacWest) which fuels their 66.5 points per contest (fifth in PacWest). At the forefront has been Alberte Frisch (14.0 points per game, seventh in PacWest) while Jordyn Rosette adds 13.4 points per game (ninth in PacWest) armed with a .421 three-point field goal percentage (third in PacWest). January's win for Menlo put them ahead of the Knights 1-0 historically.

STOUT DEFENSE EARNS ACADEMY OF ART 52-49 VICTORY OVER CUH
Ending its Pacific West Conference Hawaii road trip on a triumphant note, Academy of Art women's basketball completed the series sweep of Chaminade with a 52-49 win supported by an 11-point second-half scoring advantage and tough defense that forced the Silverswords to miss 24 shots from the field in the final two quarters on Feb. 1.

LOOKING AHEAD
The Knights' current homestand finishes with Westmont on Feb. 15 at 1 p.m. from Laney College in Oakland.