Pitt Tops Cornell on School Day, 51-39

Monday, November 13

Pittsburgh, Pa.

11 A.M.

Pitt

(2-0)

Cornell

(0-2)

Cornell

Pitt

Pitt Tops Cornell on School Day, 51-39

11/13/2017 2:39:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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Panthers Win in Front of Promotion-Record Crowd

PITTSBURGH – Redshirt junior forward Yacine Diop produced her second consecutive double-double for Pitt women's basketball (2-0, 0-0 ACC) as the Panthers took down Cornell (0-2, 0-0 Ivy), 51-39, on School Day at Petersen Events Center Monday morning.

In front of a School Day-record crowd of 10,587 that included students and teachers from more than 110 Pittsburgh-area schools, Diop led the Panthers with 13 points and 10 rebounds for her second double-double in just two games this season. The 5-foot-10 forward also put up team highs of five steals and four assists. Junior center Kalista Walters nearly joined her in the double-double lane with eight points and 10 rebounds.

To start the game, Pitt took off on a 7-0 run over the first 6:39, with five points coming from Diop. Cornell answered with an 8-0 run of its own over the next 1:54 to assume the lead. Sophomore guard Jasmine Whitney tied the game on a free throw at the 3:59 mark. The game tied for the second time at 2:54 (10-10), and the Big Red ended the first quarter with a layup and two free throws to take a 14-10 advantage into the second period.

The second quarter brought severe struggles on the offensive end for the Panthers and Big Red end as both teams combined for seven points. Junior forward Danielle Garven ended the Panthers' scoring drought that had lasted since the 2:54 mark in the first quarter to make it 14-10 at 8:19. Sophomore Alayna Gribble scored the Panthers' only other points in the quarter on a driving layup to tie the game. Cornell's Janee Dennis hit a triple – the Big Red's only points of the quarter – to give Cornell a 17-14 lead. The score stayed that way heading into the halftime break.

Neither team was able to reach the scoreboard the 6:23 mark in the third quarter, as Danielle Jorgenson hit two free throws for Cornell. Walters made a layup at 6:13 for Pitt's first points since the 5:36 mark in the second to make it 19-16, still in Cornell's favor. After a free throw from Samantha Widmann gave the Big Red a 20-16 advantage at 5:46, Gribble hit crucial back-to-back 3-pointers to give Pitt its first lead (22-20) since 5:06 remained in the first quarter (7-6). Cornell outscored the Panthers 5-3 to end the quarter with the teams tied, 25-25.

Following a tie and a two lead changes in the first minute of the final quarter, the Panthers exploded for a 13-0 run that lasted over the next six minutes to give Pitt a 12-point lead (40-28). The stretch included five points from Whitney, four from Diop, two from Garven and two from freshman Kyla Nelson. With the tide turned in their favor, the Panthers held on to at least a nine-point margin for the remainder of the game and picked up the 51-39.

The Panthers scored more points in the fourth quarter (26) than in the previous three quarters combined (25).

WITH THE WIN…

The Panthers are 2-0 for the third consecutive season, and for the fourth time in head coach Suzie McConnell-Serio's five seasons at Pitt.
The Panthers own 2-0 advantage against the Big Red. Pitt's only other meeting with Cornell was last season's 56-44 win at Petersen Events Center (Nov. 26, 2016).
Coach McConnell-Serio owns a 9-2 head coaching record against Ivy League opponents.
Pitt extended its win streak on School Day to three games and improved its record to 7-2 when hosting the promotion.

UP NEXT

The Panthers will host crosstown rival Duquesne Thursday at 7 p.m. at Petersen Events Center for the 36th all-time meeting between the teams. Tickets are available online at PittsburghPanthers.com or by calling 1-800-643-PITT (7488).

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