Panthers to Host Youngstown State in Home Opener

GAME 1: YOUNGSTOWN STATE (0-0, 0-0 HORIZON LEAGUE) AT PITT (0-0, 0-0 ACC)
Friday, Nov. 10 | 7 p.m. ET
Pittsburgh, Pa. | Petersen Events Center (12,508)
Watch | Live Stats | Tickets | Radio: 1320AM WJAS
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GAME NOTES

PITTSBURGH – The 44th season of Pitt women's basketball (0-0, 0-0 ACC) will get underway Friday when the Panthers host Youngstown State (0-0, 0-0 Horizon League) at 7 p.m. at Petersen Events Center.

HOW TO FOLLOW

The game will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra, with Mike Nicastro on the call and Kevin Wheeler as analyst.
Live stats will be available at PittsburghPanthers.com.
On the radio, fans can find the game on 1320AM WJAS in the Pittsburgh area with George Von Benko on the call and Jesse Irwin as analyst.
Fans may follow live updates on Twitter and Instagram at @Pitt_WBB.

HOME SWEET HOME

Pitt has a 31-12 all-time record in home openers, with an 11-4 record at Petersen Events Center since the facility opened for the 2002-03 season.
The Panthers have won their last two lidlifters, including last year's meeting with Mount St. Mary's (89-54) and a 67-41 win over Wagner in 2015.
Pitt has hosted Youngstown State for its home opener on three different occasions: an 80-62 win in 1980, a 78-58 win in 2010, and a 64-50 loss in 2012.

SIX NEW FACES

The Panthers added six newcomers to their 2017-18 roster, including five true freshman and one junior transfer.
NJCAA All-America Honorable Mention Danielle Garven came to Pitt after leading Chipola College to the NJCAA Elite Eight this past season. The 6-foot-1 junior forward averaged 13.7 points and 7.5 rebounds per game in 2016-17.
Freshmen Kyla Nelson, Pika Rodriguez and Magatte Sall each boast international experience. Nelson captained the U20 Great Britain National Team in 2016 and Rodriguez was Puerto Rico's top scorer at the 2017 FIBA World Cup in Italy with 14.6 points per game. Sall competed at the U16 and U17 African Cup Games.
A pair of Maryland natives added much-needed height to the squad in 6-foot-2 center Cara Judkins and 6-foot-3 forward Jaala Henry. Judkins is a two-time Adidas All-American and Henry was invited to play with the USA Basketball Women's U16 National Team in 2015.

UP FOR A CHALLENGE

Pitt's 2017-18 schedule lists top competition, with six opponents featured in the AP Top 25 and USA Today Coaches Poll, and six more receiving votes in those polls.
Top 25 opponents include No. 13/15 West Virginia (Dec. 7), No. 9/10 Louisville (Jan. 18, Feb. 25), No. 6/5 Notre Dame (Jan. 25), No. 12/12 Duke (Jan. 28), No. 18/14 Florida State and RV/No. 24 Miami (Feb. 15).
Those receiving votes include Virginia (Dec. 28), North Carolina (Jan. 7), Virginia Tech (Jan. 11), Georgia Tech (Jan. 14), Syracuse (Jan. 21, Feb. 19) and NC State (Feb. 22).
Sixteen of the Panthers' 2017-18 opponents competed in the 2016-17 postseason. Nine were selected to the 2017 NCAA Tournament, and seven played in the 2017 WNIT. Thirteen of Pitt's opponents finished the 2016-17 season inside the RPI Top 100, with five inside the Top 20.

#PITTalia

Pitt went 3-0 against international competition during a 10-day tour of Italy in August. The Panthers topped TK Hannover (Germany), 47-37, defeated All-Star Italy, 74-44, and conquered FSG Academy (Holland), 66-61. Newcomer Danielle Garven led Pitt with 13.3 points per game over the three contests, including 21 points against FSG Academy.
The Panthers visited seven destinations in Italy, including Rome, Vatican City, Florence, Lucca, Venice, Verona and Cernobbio. They toured such sites as the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, Piazza San Marco, Casa di Giulietta and Lake Como.

SHE'S BACK!

After missing the 2016-17 season with a leg injury, redshirt junior forward Yacine Diop returns to the hardwood for Pitt. The Dakar, Senegal, native was one of two players to average double-figure scoring for the Panthers in 2015-16 with 10.4 points per game. In total, Diop has started all 63 games of her career and averages 9.9 points and 6.2 rebounds per contest.

SCOUTING THE PENGUINS

Picked eighth in the 2017-18 Horizon League Preseason Poll, the Penguins return five players who have averaged at least 10 points per game in a season, led by junior guard Alison Smolinski (12.5 ppg in 2016-17). Youngstown State is coming off a 9-21 season that ended in the first round of the Horizon League Championship.
Pitt is 16-4 all-time against the Penguins, with an 11-2 record at Petersen Events Center. The Panthers hold a two-game win streak against YSU, dating back to 2014 and including last season's 63-50 win on School Day.

UP NEXT

Pitt will host Cornell for its ninth annual School Day Game Monday, Nov. 13, at 11 a.m. at Petersen Events Center. Tickets are available online at PittsburghPanthers.com or by calling 1-800-643-PITT (7488).

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Panthers to Host Youngstown State in Home Opener

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Yacine Diop

Panthers to Host Youngstown State in Home Opener

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Yacine Diop

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