Box Score SAN FRANSICO – Academy of Art did just enough down the stretch to overcome a solid Azusa Pacific effort as the Urban Knights posted a 74-70 win.
The Pacific West Conference's preseason top two teams played a game that equaled the anticipation leading up to the first of two meetings between the squads.
The lead changed hands seven times, including on five occasions during the final minutes, and featured seven ties as well.
"It's tough to lose a game like that. Each team played hard and with intensity," head coach T.J. Hardeman. "I'm proud of how we battled in a tough road environment. While disappointed we didn't win, we will learn from this and be a better team moving forward."
The game started ominously for the Cougars as they found themselves down 11-6 with 15:59 left in the opening frame after a pair of foul shots by Regina Camera. On Azusa Pacific's ensuing possession Katie Powell drained a three-pointer which sparked a 20-5 scoring spurt. The run was capped off by a pair of Lauren Gilster free throws with 12:09 left in the half and the Cougars held a 26-16 lead.
Academy of Art chipped away at their deficit and got within three points on three occasions. With 1:54 left a Krystal Forthan lay-up got the home team's shortfall down to 37-35. That was as close as the Urban Knights got in the opening half as Azusa Pacific (7-5, 3-2 PacWest) went into the locker room with a 40-35 advantage.
Azusa Pacific started the second half with the scoring touch as they scored 11 of the second stanza's first 16 points. Miriam Zabinsky completed the scoring spurt with a three-pointer to give her team a 51-40 edge with 13:57 left.
The Urban Knights overcame their disadvantage. The home team tied the score at 60-60 but five straight points for Azusa Pacific put them back in front. Academy of Art (8-3, 3-0) responded with four unanswered points. At the final media timeout with 3:14 left, the Cougars held a 65-64 advantage. Academy of Art took their first lead of the game since the early stage of the first half when Forthan hit a lay-up to put the Urban Knights in front 68-67 with 1:41 left.
In those final minutes the Cougars were hit with two blows as starters Hardeman and Zabinsky each fouled out.
In this highly anticipated early season PacWest match-up the final moments were taut with excitement. Cydnie Jones tied the score at 68-68 with a foul shot but Forthan hit a jumper on the Urban Knight next possession as they went ahead 70-68. Jones followed that with a lay-up to knot the score once again, this time at 70-70. The back-and-fourth final minute continued as Forthan, the reigning conference Player of the Year, converted on another field goal attempt with 34 ticks left in the game.
Down 72-70, Azusa Pacific's final possession afforded them the opportunity to take three shots to tie the score but they couldn't find the bottom of the net before Forthan grabbed a defensive rebound and sealed the game for the Urban Knights with a pair of free throws with two seconds left.
The Cougars were led by the duo of Maggie Dumphy and Jones. Dumphy scored a career high 24 points on the strength of a 12-for-23 shooting night. She also grabbed a team high eight rebounds while blocking three shots.
Jones recorded her first double-double in a Cougar uniform as she scored 11 points and dished out 10 assists. The junior nearly recorded a triple-double as she grabbed seven rebounds as well.
"Maggie and Cydnie played phenomenally. They've continued to grow as the season has progressed and their maturity will be key to our success the rest of the way," Hardeman said.
Forthan led the way for the Urban Knights with a 27-point, 17-rebound afternoon.
The final regular season meeting between the two schools comes inside the Felix Event Center on Jan. 12.
