Shariah Green
Amanda Loman
72
Winner Academy of Art AAU-WBB 1-0
63
Western Ore. WOU 0-1
Winner
Academy of Art AAU-WBB
1-0
72
Final
63
Western Ore. WOU
0-1
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Academy of Art AAU-WBB 17 8 24 23 72
Western Ore. WOU 22 16 18 7 63

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Brian Kortz

Academy of Art uses big fourth quarter to slip past women’s basketball in season opener

MONMOUTH, Ore. – The season opener got off to a great start early on for the Western Oregon University women's basketball team as they used a strong first half to take a 38-25 lead into halftime. After Academy of Art had a plus-six edge in the third quarter, they used a big 23-7 run in the fourth quarter to come back and defeat the Wolves 72-63 Friday in the season opener for both teams inside the NPE Building Gym.

"We came out with a sense of urgency but got comfortable and let our lead slip away once again.  I thought we played frantic when Academy of Art picked up their pressure and had too many costly turnovers in the fourth.  We have to be better with contesting without fouling, sending them to the line thirty seven times is unacceptable.  We have to find a way to compose ourselves, step up and stop a run without having to burn a timeout," head coach Holli Howard-Carpenter said.

Following the first points of the game off free throws by the Urban Knights, WOU hit a three-pointer by Keyonna Jones and then a jumper by Shariah Green to move out to a 5-2 lead. Academy of Art used a 6-0 run to regain the lead at 8-5. After that, it was all WOU the remainder of the first 20 minutes.

"Shay had a solid night for us and we need to find more ways to get her the ball," Howard-Carpenter said.

After fighting back to tie the score a couple of times, a layup by Green, followed by a three-pointer by Tresai McCarver pushed the lead to four. Rachel Rogers closed the first quarter strong when she collected an offensive rebound and putback leaving WOU with the 22-17 lead.

The Urban Knights put together a quick run to start the second quarter to pull back to within one before the Wolves went on a 6-0 spurt. Rogers started the run with a jumper and then both Meadow Aragon and Green hit a pair of foul shots to push the lead to 30-23 near the midway point of the quarter.

Still holding a five-point lead, WOU closed the opening half on an 8-0 run to jump the lead into double-digits. Green contributed four straight points before a jumper by Rogers and then a strong drive to the bucket by Sydnee Reeser gave the Wolves a 38-25 lead at halftime.

The lead at one point reached 15 early in the third quarter when Jones sunk a pair from the foul line. Academy of Art began to chip away, getting the lead back under double-figures before a Green layup kept the lead at 10.

The Urban Knights got as close as four before the Wolves were able to make a couple of key baskets the remainder of the quarter and hold a 56-49 lead entering the final frame.

Academy of Art then dominated the fourth quarter as they scored the first 15 points before WOU was able to record a free throw with 1:49 remaining. During that time, the Urban Knights fought back to take an eight-point lead on their way to picking up the victory.

Academy of Art went 23-50 (46) from the field, 4-17 (24) from three and struggled at the foul line going just 22-37 (60). WOU went 21-58 (36) from the field, 7-25 (28) from three and did well from the free throw line making 14-16 (88). The Urban Knights used a strong 32-14 points in the paint advantage.

Tayler Bennet paced Academy of Art with 19 points, while Pam Wilmore added 15. Wilmore made it a double-double as the guard pulled down 10 rebounds. The Urban Knights had three in double-figures as Lily Perkins scored 13 points.

Green led the way for the Wolves with 15 points, going 5-8 from the field and added five rebounds. Rogers reached double-figures with 10 points and added six rebounds and four assists.

"Tomorrow is a quick turnaround and we need to bounce back.  It will be just as physical and a tough match up...we need to come ready and put two halves together," Howard-Carpenter said.

WOU will turn around and face Cal State East Bay on Saturday starting at 3 p.m. The Pioneers defeated Concordia earlier on Friday, 67-55.
 
 
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