Pitt 78, Youngstown State 52 Post Game Notes
12/21/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The Panthers’ victory over the Penguins extends their overall series lead to 15-5. They have won six of the last seven matchups between the programs, and three of the last four in the Petersen Events Center.
Through 11 games the Panthers have put up 70 or more points on eight separate occasions, as compared to only five performances of 70 or better all of last season. They improve to 7-1 in those games with the victory.
With the win, the Panthers extend their current home winning streak to seven games, the second longest such streak in Petersen Events Center history. The 2009-10 squad had a seven-game streak, with the 2008-9 squad holding the record with an eight game streak.
Pitt only committed seven turnovers against the Penguins, the lowest number of turnovers in a game since they committed seven against Villanova on February 18, 2009.
Cora McManus set season-high marks in field goals made (6 , previously 5 vs. Radford), field goal percentage (.750 on 6-8 shooting , previously .625 on 5-8 shooting vs. James Madison), and points (12 , previously 11 vs. Radford).
Brianna Kiesel recorded her 7th career double-double and first ever double-double made up of points and assists (11 points and 10 assists). She also set a career mark for assists in a game with 10; she set the mark previously with nine helpers against DePaul on January 14, 2012.
Sophomore Chelsea Welch also set a career mark against the Penguins, going a perfect 6-6 from the charity stripe, setting marks for both free throws made and attempted (previously 4 FTM and FTA against James Madison earlier this year).
Defensively, the Panthers were dominant, holding the Penguins to 25.8% shooting from the floor and 25.9% shooting from long range. The 25.8% mark is the new high-water mark for Pitt in the statistical category, having previously held Loyola to 29% from the field. They also held 9 of the 13 Youngstown State players below their season average scoring outputs, including four of the five starters.
For the third time this season, the Panthers dished out more than 20 assists, with 24 passed around against Youngstown State. Pitt entered the game fourth overall in the ACC in assist to turnover ratio (1.2), and fifth overall in assists per game (16.3).
Behind McManus’ 12 points, the Panthers were dominant in the paint, outscoring the Penguins 36-20. The 16 point margin is tied for the second largest this season, and improves the Panthers to 6-1 in games where they outscore their opponents in the paint.
Winning the glass has been a trend for the Panthers, and today was no different. Recording 48 rebounds, the second highest total of the season, the Panthers improve to 6-1 when they win the rebounding battle.
Pitt was nearly perfect from the charity stripe, netting 11 of 13 attempts for the best free throw percentage made mark of the season at 84.6% (previously 80% vs. Drexel).
The Panthers closed the first half on what has become a trademark run, mirroring their performances against Ball State and Drexel. Against the Dragons, Pitt outscored Drexel 28-3 over the last 8:39 of the first; facing Ball State, the Panthers went on a 12-1 run over the last 5:12 of the opening half, and against Youngstown State they closed the half with a 21-8 run over the last 12:42 (13-0 run included in the 21-8).