Pitt
Cincinnati
Cole Dominates in Panthers' 72-60 Win over Cincinnati
2/27/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 27, 2010
CINCINNATI — Chelsea Cole poured in a game-high 20 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, racking up her fourth straight double-double as the Panthers (16-12, 5-10 Big East) won their final regular-season road game 72-60 over the University of Cincinnati here at Fifth Third Arena.
Three other Panther players reached double figures in the win with Brittaney Thomas and Jania Sims each putting up 15 and Taneisha Harrison chipping in with 10. Shayla Scott finished with eight points, adding 10 rebounds and a game-high six assists in the winning effort.
The Panthers shot 42.2 percent (27-of-64) for the game and were 12-of-14 (85.7 percent) from the free throw line. Pitt added 18 assists, one shy of their season-high in Big East action and won the rebounding edge, 42-29, thanks in large part to Cole and Scott.
Cole accounted for 11 of Pitt’s first 14 points in the second half, helping Pitt string together a 10-1 run capped by a Thomas three-pointer. Harrison’s three-pointer with 4:34 left gave the Panthers a 14-point lead at 66-52.
Shanasa Saunders hit a free throw and Kahla Roudebush made good on her third three-pointer of the game to bring the Bearcats (11-16, 4-11 Big East) within 10 at 66-56 with just over three minutes remaining, but that would be as close as UC could get as Pitt continued to pressure on the defensive end.
The Panthers and Bearcats played to a 33-33 draw in the first half. Cincinnati opened up with a quick 6-0 run to start the game, forcing Pitt head coach Agnus Berenato to call a timeout to regroup. The Panthers rebounded with jumpers from Sims and Wilson to cut the lead to two.
Cincinnati took an eight-point advantage on a Val Shuster layup at the 10:38 mark. Sims hit two three-pointers while Thomas added a jumper as Pitt pulled within two at 23-21 with 6:53 remaining in the first half.
Harrison’s layup knotted the game 23 while Sims’ third three-pointer of the first half gave Pitt its first lead at 26-23 with just over five minutes to play.
The Panthers shot 43.3 percent (13-for-30) from the field and held a 21-14 advantage on the glass at the half. The Bearcats were paced by Michelle Jones who finished the half with 12 points.
Pitt will conclude the regular-season on Monday night, hosting St. John’s University at the Petersen Events Center. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
