Pitt
(14-7, 4-4ACC)
Miami
(15-6, 5-3ACC)
Kiesel Leads Pitt Past Miami, 81-66
2/1/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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PITTSBURGH - Senior guard Brianna Kiesel led four Panthers in double figures with 23 points as the University of Pittsburgh women's basketball team (14-7, 4-4 ACC) defeated Miami (15-6, 5-3 ACC) by the score of 81-66 on Sunday at the Petersen Events Center.
Kiesel filled up the box score and added six rebounds, seven assists and five steals to her stat line. She was a perfect 10-of-10 at the free throw line and this is now the 10th time this season she has had at least 20 points in a game.
Pitt's post players also made major contributions as Monica Wignot had 15 points, seven rebounds and five blocks, while Stasha Carey added 14 points, six boards and also had five blocks. Chelsea Welch chipped in with a season-high 12 points and was 3-of-3 from long range.
"This is a great win against a very good basketball team," head coach Suzie McConnell-Serio said. "They are so quick and athletic, and coming into this game we wanted to limit them in transition. We only had eight turnovers against a team that thrives on creating them. We made plays on the offensive end we hit shots. I am proud of how our team handled Miami's pressure."
The Panthers raced out to an early 10-4 lead at the first media timeout as all five starters contributed in the scoring column. However, Miami's Michelle Woods sparked the Hurricanes with eight early points, and her driving layup tied the game at 19-19 at the under eight media timeout.
As the lead continued to change hands, the Panthers went ahead 26-22 on a 3-pointer from Carey, but the Hurricanes scored the next five points and led 27-26 with 3:20 remaining in the half.
The Panthers though, outscored Miami 11-5 down the stretch of the opening half, which was capped off by Wignot making three free throws with less than one second remaining to give Pitt a 37-32 halftime advantage.
It was a well-balanced half for the Panthers as seven of the eight players found the scoring column, led by Kiesel with nine, followed by Carey with eight and Wignot with seven.
Pitt opened the second half on an 8-2 run which forced Miami into a timeout at 17:31 after a transition layup from Yacine Diop. Pitt would outscore Miami 14-6 in the first five minutes and led 51-38 with 15:06 remaining.
Miami tried to mount a comeback, and would get within eight twice, but timely 3-pointers from Welch kept the Hurricanes at a distance. Her third triple gave the Panthers a 66-53 lead, and then Wignot made one from downtown to increase the lead to 16 which forced Miami into another timeout with 5:19 left.
The Hurricanes would not be able to get within 12 for the remainder of the contest, and Pitt, who was 24-for-28 at the free throw line, converted down the stretch from the line.
Pitt held Miami to just 33 percent shooting for the game, and despite Miami out-rebounding the Panthers by 10, Pitt held a 24-22 advantage of points in the paint.
With her seven assists today, Kiesel is just three helpers shy of coming the second player in program history to reach 1,000 career points, 500 career rebounds and 400 career assists. Kiesel is currently leading the ACC in assists per game.
The Panthers are on the road next week for a game at NC State on Thursday night, before traveling to Louisville on Sunday for a rematch with the sixth-ranked Cardinals.
