BELMONT, Calif.--Host Academy of Art held off every Hawai`i Hilo charge for a 56-47 women's basketball victory on Sunday afternoon at Walter Gleason Gymnasium.

It was an important win for the Urban Knights, who held on to their fifth place spot in the Pacific West Conference at 9-5 (12-9 overall). UH HIlo came into the game in sixth place but slipped into seventh, one-half game behind Point Loma (7-7 PWC/10-8 overall). The top eight teams in the conference qualify for the PacWest tournament in early March.

It was also a revenge win for the Knights, who fell to the Vulcans (66-58) in Hilo on January 13. 

Academy of Art led almost from start to finish, although they had to hold off a number of UH Hilo runs. The Vulcans actually took the first lead of the game (6-2) two minutes into the game and the two squads traded baskets through the first quarter before a MIlan Tuttle three-pointer game the home team a 19-15 lead at the period break.

ART built a 24-16 lead early in the second quarter, but the Vulcans clawed back to within a trey after Mandi Kawaha's three-pointer made it 25-22. The Urban Knights then took a 27-22 lead into intermission.

A 6-0 run at the start of the third quarter pushed the ART lead to 34-22. The Vulcans, who sometimes live and die by the three-pointers, finally hit their second with 2:23 to go in the third, when Sara Shimizu drained a long bomb to cut the Knight margin to 36-31. Two Jenna Waki free throws made it 39-35 heading into the final period.

A 6-1 run at the start of the fourth pushed the ART lead to nine points with six minutes to go. Another Shimizu trey and Bree Olson's lay-up cut the lead to four points (47-43) with 3:40 to go, but the Vulcans would get no closer. Academy of Art hit their free throws down the stretch to salt the victory away.

The Vulcans stayed close all day despite shooting only 31 percent from the field and 2-for-14 from behind the arch. Waki led UHH in scoring with 13 points and also pulled down seven rebounds. Shimizu was also in double figures with 11 points. Lauryn Manns led ART with 18 points and Christy Ojide had a double-double with 15 points and 11 boards.

The Vulcans continue their Bay area trip with back-to-back games against Holy Names in Oakland on Tuesday and Wednesday. 

BOX SCORE to come.