By Ron Smith
February 15, 2025
 
(OAKLAND, Calif.) Westmont Women's Basketball (16-8, 12-5 PacWest) rallied from a seven-point deficit at the end of the third quarter to post a 61-56 road victory over Academy of Art (10-13, 3-12) on Saturday afternoon. The Warriors outscored the Urban Knights 23-11 in the final frame to earn the victory.
 
Both teams got off to a slow start offensively. Tied at five points each with less than three minutes to play in the first quarter, the Urban Knights got back-to-back threes from Christy Ojide Boiko and Violet Stutz to take a 11-5 lead. In the final minute of the opening period, however, Westmont's Molly Garnand scored on a layup and Noemie Bariteau sank a triple to make the score 11-10 at the first 10 minutes.
 
Art U extended its lead in the first five minutes of the second quarter with a 9-2 run to take a 20-12 lead. Mariah Brown ended the streak with a long-range bucket, bringing the Warriors to within five (20-15). Each team added five points to their totals over the remainder of the half, resulting in a 30-25 score at the intermission.
 
The third quarter was played closely with the Urban Knights edging the Warriors 15-13 to make the score 45-38. Jazmyn Shipp went three of four in the penultimate period, leading the Warriors with six points.
 
Shipp continued her scoring into the fourth quarter, making a layup and then a jumper to pull the Warriors to within three (45-42). After a layup by the Urban Knights' Karereatua Williams, Shipp made two free throws to restore the margin to three (47-44).
 
Anna Fornells stepped to the charity stripe and made her own free throws for Art U, but Shipp demonstrated her long-range accuracy with a trey that made the score 49-47.
 
Alba Rovira Ayuso restored a five-point margin to the Urban Knights with a three. Then, Lisa Kiefer scored on a layup and Sage Kramer made three free throws, tying the score (52-52) for the first time since the first quarter.
 
With 2:19 to play, Yasmine Sifaoui scored on a layup. Then, Brown tied the scored at 54 with a pair of free throws. Sifaoui added another layup to put the Academy of Art 56-54 with 1:44 left. However, those were the last points that the Urban Knights would score.
 
The Warriors brought the ball up the floor and missed a couple of shots. However, two offensive rebounds kept the possession alive. Then, Bailey Fong drained a triple to give Westmont a 57-56 lead – their first of the game.
 
After Art U traveled on their ensuing possession, Fong rebounded another Warriors miss, then scored again with another three with 16 seconds to play. A free throw by Kiefer accounted for the final score.
 
Fong led all scorers with 16 points. She also added three rebounds and three steals. Kramer and Shipp each added 15 points with Shipp pulling down six rebounds and Kramer collecting three.
 
On Wednesday, the Warriors will host their final home game of the year, taking on the Lions of Vanguard. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. with a Senior Day celebration held just prior to the game.