Pitt
Syracuse
NO. 25 PITT TAKES 84-75 ROAD WIN FROM SYRACUSE
1/16/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 16, 2007
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Behind sophomore Xenia Stewart's 20 points, the 25th-ranked Pitt women's basketball team (14-3, 2-2 Big East) defeated Syracuse (8-11, 2-4), 84-75, Tuesday night at the Carrier Dome.
"A win on the road is huge for us in this league," head coach Agnus Berenato said. "It has been hard for us to maintain a large lead and I am excited that we pulled it out tonight. We weathered the storm because this is a tough facility to play in."
Stewart (Bowie, Md./Riverdale Baptist) led the team with 20 points and added six rebounds. Sophomore Shavonte Zellous (Orlando, Fla./Jones) added 19 points and nine rebounds, junior Marcedes Walker (Philadelphia, Pa./University City) scored 17 points and added eight rebounds and four assists and junior Karlyle Lim (Chapel Hill, N.C./East Chapel Hill) tied her career high with 16 points.
"I am so proud of Karlyle," Berenato said. "She earned her first start of the season tonight and really played well. This was a tight game and she kept her composure and really stepped up her play."
On the night, Pitt shot 46.9 percent from the field on 30 of 64 shooting including going 4 of 10 from three point range. Syracuse was held to just 10.0 percent from three point range, hitting 1 of 10 on the night and shot 40.4 percent overall.
Stewart hit 7 of 10 from the field in the first half for 16 points to lead the Panthers. She got off to a quick start with nine of the team's first 15 points to begin the game.
Pitt earned an early 15-5 lead and went on to stretch the Panther advantage to 20 points at 37-17 with 5:48 remaining in the half. Syracuse cut the lead to 11 at 39-28 on an 11-2 run by the Orange but Pitt extended the lead to 13 at the half at 41-28.
In the second half, Syracuse got as close as one point at 51-50 with 12:50 remaining. Pitt responded with a 21-5 run that pulled the Panthers out to a 17-point lead at 72-55 with 6:34 on the clock.
The Orange was not finished with their threat, however, as a jumper by Fantasia Goodwin pulled them to within six points with just 1:48 remaining. Lim and freshman Jania Sims (Newark, N.J./Shabazz) hit their free throws down the stretch and led Pitt to an 84-75 victory.
Pitt returns home Saturday, Jan. 20 against South Florida at 2 p.m. for Girl Scouts and UPMC Women in Sports Day. For more information, visit www.PittsburghPanthers.com.
