Pitt Roars Back In Second Half To Take Down Clemson, 80-71

Sunday, December 13

Pittsburgh, Pa.

12:00 PM

Pitt

3-2,1-1ACC

Clemson University

6-1,1-1ACC

Clemson

Pittsburgh

Photo by: Matt Hawley/Pitt Athletics

Pitt Roars Back In Second Half To Take Down Clemson, 80-71

12/13/2020 4:27:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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PITTSBURGH – Behind a 21-point afternoon from sophomore Dayshanette Harris, the Pitt women's basketball team (3-2, 1-1 ACC) overcame a 14-point second half deficit to collect their first ACC victory of the season, downing the previously unbeaten Clemson Tigers (6-1, 1-1 ACC) 80-71 Sunday afternoon at the Petersen Events Center.

"Well, obviously I'm really excited about an ACC win and I thought the things that we did in the third and fourth quarters were much better," stated third year head coach Lance White. "I was really disappointed in the way we started the game. I thought we were really flat and just got out rebounded and out hustled during every part of it. Then, our kids flipped a switch and that's what we've talked so much to this team about, about being able to do so in those moments and we did it today."

Pitt had four players score in double figures Sunday as Harris had her second straight 20+ point game, netting a game-high 21 points, five assists and three rebounds on an efficient 9-for-16 shooting afternoon while Jayla Everett finished off her game with 16 points, four assists, three rebounds and three blocks while connecting on four triples. Amber Brown had a strong game as she netted 14 points, five rebounds and four steals while freshman Liatu King came off the bench and posted 11 points and two rebounds in the win.

The Panthers entered the fourth quarter trailing by 12, 61-49, but they had some momentum on their side after they closed out the third quarter strong. Everett connected on seven straight points including an old fashion four-point play after draining a deep triple and making the free throw after getting hit to cut the deficit to one, 64-63. After a Clemson bucket, Harris finished off a fast break layup and Gabbie Green had the play of the game as she stole a pass and threw an over the head pass to King who finished off the layup to give Pitt the 67-66 lead with just over four minutes to play.

Out of the final media timeout, the Tigers were able to claim the 71-67 lead after a pair of buckets but the Panthers didn't back down as Emy Hayford netted a second chance layup and Green connected on her lone triple of the day to give the Panthers the lead. Everett sealed the win just over 20 seconds after Green's three with a three of her own as the Pitt defense didn't allow a point over the final 3:41 to claim the 80-71 victory.

The Panthers got off to another quick start offensively Sunday as they scored seven straight after the Tigers opened the scoring with two free throws. Rita Igbokwe started the scoring with an offensive rebound and layup before Harris hit a jumper and Everett finished off three free throws to make it 7-2 early on for Pitt. Over the next three minutes, the Tigers were able to connect on three triples as they took the 16-11 lead into the media timeout. Harris came out of the timeout with back-to-back buckets but the Tigers finished the first quarter on a 6-0 run to take the 22-15 lead into the second.

The Panthers cut into the lead to start the second quarter as Cynthia Ezeja finished off a layup and Destiny Strother came off the bench and connected on a triple to make the score 24-20 in favor of the visitors. The Tigers responded quickly with a 7-2 run to push their lead back to nine, 31-22. Everett netted her first triple of the game with just over three minutes to go in the half to make it a six-point game but Clemson scored seven straight to send the game to half with Pitt trailing 40-29.

The two teams exchanged some buckets early in the third quarter before a triple by the Tigers gave them their biggest lead of the game, 14, with seven minutes to go in the third. Pitt responded right away after the triple as King finished off a layup after a great feed from Harris and then Harris connected on a jumper to cut the deficit to 10. The Tigers scored six straight points to push their lead to 61-47 in the final minute But King was able to draw a foul and sink both free throws to send the game to the fourth with Pitt trailing 61-49.

Ezeja was massive off the Panthers bench on Sunday as she brought loads of energy and rebounded the ball better than anyone on the floor. The redshirt freshman finished the game with four points and a career-high 11 rebounds in 21 minutes of work. Hayford made a strong impact for Pitt in the second half as her defense and energy helped Pitt secure the comeback win as she finished with four points, three rebounds, an assist and a steal in 18 minutes.

As a team, the Panthers won the rebounding battle 43-39 while also racking up 18 offensive boards that they turned into 18 second chance points. The Panthers also won the fast break scoring category 20-14 while Clemson held the 30-26 edge in scoring in the paint.

Clemson was led by Amari Robinson who netted 17 points and eight rebounds while Gabby Elliott added 17 points and four boards in the loss.

UP NEXT

Pitt returns to the court Sunday, Dec. 20 as they travel to Tallahassee to take on the Florida State Seminoles at 2pm on ACC Network Extra.

PITT NOTES
Team

With the win, Pitt improves to 7-8 all-time against the Tigers including a 4-3 mark in games played in Pittsburgh.
The win marked the Panthers first ACC home opening victory since joining the conference in 2013-14.
The 31-point fourth quarter is the second highest scoring quarter in program history for the Panthers.
The 50-point second half was the highest scoring half of the season for the Panthers.
The Panthers shot over 40% from the floor for the fifth straight game to start the season.

Dayshanette Harris

Harris finished off another strong game with 21 points, five assists and three rebounds in just 23 minutes of work as she fouled out in the fourth.
The 21-point effort gives Harris back-to-back 20+ point games for just the second time in her career. It also marks the eighth 20+ point effort of her Pitt career.
Harris posted a team-high five assists in the win. The sophomore has four games this season with at least five helpers and has now led the Panthers in assists 20 times over her career.
She now has 21 career games scoring in double figures, including in 13 straight dating back to last season, while leading Pitt in scoring 15 times.

Jayla Everett

Everett had another strong outing for Pitt Sunday as she netted 16 points, 10 of which coming in the final quarter, while also dishing out four assists, three rebounds, three blocks and two steals in 34 minutes of work.
She finished the game going 4-for-11 from the floor but 4-for-9 from behind the arc in the win.
Everett has now connected on at least three triples in all five games this season. She has three straight games with at least four three-pointers made.
The three blocks are a new career-high for the St. Louis, MO product.
Everett now has 37 career games scoring in double figures including all five as a Panther.

Amber Brown

Brown had her best offensive game of the season Sunday as she netted 14 points, five rebounds and four steals across 25 minutes of action.
The sophomore finished off her afternoon going 4-for-7 from the floor and 6-for-8 from the free throw line. The six free throw makes are a season-high for Brown.
Her four steals are a new career-high as she led the Pitt defensive charge in the second half.
Brown now has 18 career double digit scoring games over her Pitt career.
She has grabbed at least five rebounds in 31 career games including four of five this season.