University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt
6-4
Princeton
8-1
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pitt | 8 | 12 | 16 | 11 | 47 |
| Princeton | 28 | 5 | 19 | 9 | 61 |
Slow Start Dooms Pitt in 61-47 Loss at Princeton
12/12/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
PRINCETON, N.J. - The University of Pittsburgh women's basketball team could not overcome a slow start as the Panthers fell to rv/rv Princeton University 61-47 on Saturday afternoon at Jadwin Gymnasium.
Princeton (8-1) opened the game on a 28-2 run and led 28-8 after the first quarter, but Pitt (6-4) outscored the Tigers 45-33 for the remainder of the game.
"You can't spot a team as good as Princeton a 26 point lead," head coach Suzie McConnell-Serio said. "However, I am proud of how we responded and the effort we played with in the final three quarters. If we hit a couple of shots down the stretch it is a different ball game, but we cannot come out flat like that."
Brenna Wise led the Panthers with 13 points, six rebounds and two steals, while fellow freshman Kalista Walters added eight points, three steals and a career-high four blocks. Pitt played with four freshmen on the court for the majority of the game.
Princeton converted 11 of its first 15 shots during the 28-2 run in the first quarter.
After two quick timeouts by McConnell-Serio, the Panthers responded on the defensive side to get back in the game.
After McConnell-Serio's second timeout with just over two minutes left in the opening quarter, the Panthers then held the Tigers to just 2-of-14 for the remainder of the first half and forced 12 turnovers.
Pitt scored the final six points of the first quarter, and outscored Princeton 12-5 in the second, ending the final 12 minutes of the first half on an 18-5 run. Princeton led 33-20 at halftime.
Walters had eight points, three blocks and two steals at halftime.
Princeton outscored Pitt 19-16 in the third quarter and led 52-36 entering the final stanza. Pitt was called for 10 team fouls in the quarter and it resulted in nine consecutive points for the Tigers at the free throw line.
The Panthers applied the pressure in the fourth quarter and Yacine Diop scored five straight which got the Panthers within 10 (56-46) and forced a Princeton timeout with 4:08 remaining.
The Panthers continued to get stops down the stretch and had two 3-point looks that would have put them right back in the game, but came up empty. Still trailing by 10 with less than two minutes to go, the Panthers allowed three straight offensive rebounds which sealed the game for Princeton.
The Tigers have now won 39 of their last 41 games dating back to last season.
Pitt is off for finals week and will resume game action on December 20th against Rider at the Petersen Events Center.
