Panthers’ Rally Falls Short to No. 18/18 Duke, 58-46

Sunday, January 28

Pittsburgh, Pa.

2 P.M.

Pitt

(9-13, 1-8ACC)

Duke

(17-5, 6-3ACC)

Duke

Pitt

Panthers’ Rally Falls Short to No. 18/18 Duke, 58-46

1/28/2018 5:43:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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Pitt Hosts 11th Annual Pink The Petersen Game

PITTSBURGH – Redshirt junior forward Yacine Diop posted her sixth double-double of the season for Pitt women's basketball (9-13, 1-8 ACC) as the Panthers fell short to No. 18/18 Duke (17-5, 6-3 ACC), 58-46, Sunday at the 11th annual Pink The Petersen game at Petersen Events Center.

Diop had 19 points and was one rebound away from tying a career high with 15. Sophomore point guard Jasmine Whitney was the only other Panther with double figures in the scoring column with 10 points and tied a season high with eight assists. Junior Kauai Bradley had eight points and seven rebounds.

The Panthers wore pink jerseys and gave out free pink T-shirts to fans in support of breast cancer research. More than 100 breast cancer survivors were honored on the court at halftime in front of a crowd of 2,430. A portion of each ticket sold was donated to Susan G. Komen Pittsburgh.

Duke's stingy defense limited the Panthers to just 25 percent shooting (7-of-28) with just one 3-pointer made (1-of-10) over the first two quarters of play. The Blue Devils led by as many as 10 in the first period (14-4, 2:27) and ended the half with a 3-pointer by Rebecca Greenwell to make it 30-15 at halftime. Diop paced the Panthers with eight points and six rebounds in the first half.

The Blue Devils continued to lead by double figures until a 14-4 Pitt run to end the third quarter put the Panthers within seven (41-34). Pitt outscored Duke 19-11 for the period, bringing in eight points apiece from Whitney and Bradley. The Panthers held Duke to 5-of-14 from the field (35.7 percent) and 0-of-4 from beyond the arc in the third, while Pitt made 7-of-17 (41.2 percent) and 2-of-5 (40.0 percent).

Following a Duke basket to open the fourth quarter, a 10-0 surge – with seven consecutive points scored by Diop – gave the Panthers their first lead of the contest (44-43). Freshman guard Kyla Nelson capped the run with a triple at the 6:43 mark. The run was not enough, as Duke finished the game on a 15-2 run, which included 10 points from redshirt senior Lexie Brown, to earn the Blue Devils a 58-46 win.

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