Panthers Notch Shootout Victory Over North Alabama, 85-83

Wednesday, December 21

Pittsburgh, Pa.

12:00 PM

Pitt

7-5,0-1ACC

North Alabama

5-6,0-0ASUN

North Ala.

Pittsburgh

Panthers Notch Shootout Victory Over North Alabama, 85-83

12/21/2022 3:10:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score Season Stats Photo Gallery

PITTSBURGH – Behind a career afternoon for junior Liatu King, the Pitt women's basketball team (7-5, 0-1 ACC) closed out their non-conference slate Wednesday afternoon with an 85-83 home victory over the North Alabama Lions. King finished with a career-high 26 points and season-best 16 rebounds in the win.

The Panthers had five players score in double figures for the first time this season led by King who notched her third double-double of the season with 26 points, 16 rebounds, three blocks and two assists while going 9-for-17 from the floor and 8-for-10 from the free throw line. Taisha Exanor came off the bench and netted a career-high 14 points, six rebounds and two assists while Amber Brown (12 points), Maliyah Johnson (11 points) and Marley Washenitz (10 points) also scored in double figures in the win.

The Lions were able to tie the game 80-80 with just over a minute to go as they netted a pair of free throws but the Panthers didn't flinch. On the ensuing trip down the court, Exanor got free inside the paint and finished off a layup to give Pitt the 82-80 lead with 50 seconds to go. After a stop on the defensive end, King knocked down three free throws to secure the home win for Pitt.

ESSENTIAL GAME INFO
Pitt starting lineup: Marley Washenitz, Dayshanette Harris, Avery Strickland, Liatu King, Amber Brown
UNA starting lineup: Skyler Gill, Emma Kate Tittle, Jade Moore, Olivia Jones, Hina Suzuki
Records: Pitt (7-5, 0-1 ACC) | North Alabama (5-6, 0-0 ASUN)
Location: Petersen Events Center | Pittsburgh, PA

GAME FLOW
Largest lead: Pitt – 9, North Alabama - 10
Lead changes: 9
Times tied: 5
Time with lead: Pitt – 18:55 | North Alabama – 20:02
Points off turnovers: Pitt - 17 | North Alabama - 18
Points in paint: Pitt – 50 | North Alabama - 28
Second chance points: Pitt – 22 | North Alabama - 5
Fast break points: Pitt – 14 | North Alabama - 11
Bench points: Pitt – 31 | North Alabama - 17

FIRST QUARTER

It was a fast start for the Lions as they hit their first five shots including a pair of triples as they earned the 12-5 lead early on.
Amber Brown and Dayshanette Harris each netted four points in a 8-3 run for the Panthers as they got the score within 15-13 at the first quarter media timeout.
Maliyah Johnson knocked down her first triple of the game out of the timeout and Liatu King scored six straight points to push the Pitt lead to 24-19 late in the quarter.
The Lions closed out the quarter with six straight points as they took the 25-24 lead into the second quarter.
The 24-point first quarter was the highest scoring first quarter of the season for the Panthers as they went 9-for-17 from the floor.

SECOND QUARTER

King opened the second quarter with a jumper to regain the lead but the Lions responded right away with a 11-3 run to take the 39-29 lead and force the Panthers into a timeout.
Out of the timeout, Brown finished off a layup and free throw and Aislin Malcolm came off the bench to drill a triple as the two teams went into the locker room with Pitt trailing 44-39.
The Lions finished the first half shooting 55% from the floor while connecting on eight triples in the opening 20 minutes.

THIRD QUARTER

The Panthers opened the third quarter with six straight points to gain the 45-44 lead as King and Avery Strickland netted back-to-back layups and Marley Washenitz drained a jumper.
The Lions then took the 48-47 lead after a layup but the Panthers came right back as Taisha Exanor finished a layup and Washenitz drained a jumper in the lane to force North Alabama to take a timeout with Pitt leading 51-48 midway through the quarter.
Out of the timeout, Washenitz drained a triple and Brown finished off back-to-back layups to give Pitt their biggest lead of the quarter, 60-51.
The Lions came back and scored the final six points of the quarter to send the game to the fourth with Pitt ahead, 60-57.

FOURTH QUARTER

Johnson opened the quarter with a pair of free throws before King took over the scoring for the Panthers as she netted seven straight to give Pitt the 71-68 lead at the media timeout in the fourth.
The Lions continued to fight back as they knocked down a triple to cut the Pitt lead to one, 75-74, with three minutes to go but Malcolm responded with a corner triple to give the Panthers some breathing room.
The Lions tied the game at 80 as they scored back-to-back buckets but Exanor and King helped Pitt finish off the win as they scored the final five points to secure the 85-83 win.
King and Exanor combined to score 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds in the fourth quarter to secure the Panthers' seventh win of the season.

TEAM STATS

Pitt finished the game shooting 50% from the floor (33-for-66) while also going 14-for-18 from the free throw line in the win. They held North Alabama to 48.3% shooting and 14-for-33 from behind the arc in the win.
Pitt held the 45-22 edge in rebounds including a 19-6 lead in offensive boards in the win. Pitt turned their 19 offensive boards into 22 second chance points.
The Panthers netted a season-high 50 points in the paint while the Lions scored only 28.

UP NEXT

Pitt has a week off before returning to the road Thursday, Dec. 29 at Wake Forest at 6pm.

PITT NOTES
Team

With the win, Pitt is now 1-0 all-time against North Alabama and 6-4 against ASUN programs
Pitt closes out their non-conference schedule with a 7-4 record as they have now secured 18 winning seasons in past 19 non-conference seasons
Pitt's bench scored 31 points in the win as they now have six games this season with 30+ points scored by the bench
Pitt secured 45 rebounds, their seventh game this season with at least 40 boards
The Panthers grabbed 19 offensive rebounds in the win, matching the most they've had in a game this season

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