Pitt Sets Sights On Virginia Sunday Afternoon On The ACC Network

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – The Pitt women's basketball team (11-15, 2-13 ACC) wraps up their three-game road swing Sunday afternoon as they head to Charlottesville to do battle with the Virginia Cavaliers. Sunday's game will tip at 4:00 pm on ACC Network.

HOW TO FOLLOW

Sunday's game will air live on ACC Network with Debbie Antonelli and Jenn Hildreth on the call. You can watch the game by clicking HERE.
You can also listen to the game on the radio on WJAS 1320 AM or 99.1 FM as the voice of Pitt women's basketball, Josh Rowntree, will have the call from Charlottesville starting at 3:45 pm. Listen to the call by clicking HERE.
Live stats of the game can be found by clicking HERE.
Live updates throughout the game will also be posted on Twitter by following the Pitt women's basketball account @Pitt_WBB.

THE SERIES WITH VIRGINIA

This meeting marks the 11th between the two teams with both teams collecting five wins in the all-time series.
The Cavaliers hold a slim 3-2 advantage in games played in Charlottesville.
Virginia has won the last two meetings in the series with Pitt collecting their last win in the series on Feb. 22, 2017 by the score of 62-54 in Pittsburgh.

ABOUT THE CAVALIERS

Virginia enters Sunday's game with a 4-22 overall record and a 1-15 ACC mark. The Cavaliers won their last ACC game on Thursday against Duke, 67-54.
Amandine Toi is leading the Cavaliers offensive attack with 12.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg and 2.3 apg while connecting on a team-high 47 three-pointers on the year.
Mir McLean joined the squad mid-season and is averaging 11.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.1 blocks. Taylor Valladay is having a strong season as she is averaging 8.7 points, a team-high 3.6 assists and 3.4 rebounds.
As a team, the Cavaliers are averaging 54.3 points per game while allowing 65.6 points per contest. They are also being out-rebounded 36.9 to 35.3 so far this season.

STORYLINES

The Panthers have continued to put an emphasis on rebounding the basketball and it has paid off in a major way. Pitt currently leads the ACC and ranks 9th in the NCAA in rebounds per game (44.1) and 5th in total rebounds (1,147). The Panthers have grabbed at least 35 rebounds in 25 of 26 games to start the season, a new program record.
As a team, the Panthers have been great blocking shots this season. Pitt currently ranks 2nd in the ACC and 15th in the NCAA in blocked shots (127). Junior Rita Igbokwe has 59 blocks on the year and now sits alone in 9th place on the Panthers' all-time blocks list with 148 career rejections.

THE OPENING TIP

Pitt wraps up their road slate Sunday afternoon as they head to Virginia to take on the Cavaliers at 4pm on ACC Network.
Pitt and South Carolina (#1 FG% defense) are the only teams in the nation to hold all 26 opponents to 45% or less shooting from the floor this season.
Junior Amber Brown has been the Panthers most consistent player as she finished off last game with 11 points, three rebounds and three assists. On the year, Brown has 11 games scoring in double figures. She is averaging 9.2 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists while connecting on 46.5% of her shots.

LAST TIME OUT AT MIAMI

The Panthers cut what once was a 15-point lead to just three early in the fourth quarter but they couldn't make it all the way back on the road, falling to Miami 60-50.
Sophomore Liatu King led the way for Pitt as she netted 15 points, eight rebounds and three assists in the loss. Rita Igbokwe also added six points, 13 rebounds and two blocks in a career-high 33 minutes.
As a team, the Panthers were able to win the battle on the glass 41-35 while outscoring Miami 11-0 in second chance points. Miami outscored Pitt 22-7 in points off of turnovers in the win.

IG-BLOCK-WE MOVING UP THE BLOCK CHARTS

Junior Rita Igbokwe has become one of the most feared defenders in the ACC as she has turned into a premier shot blocker for the Panthers.
So far this season, Igbokwe ranks 3rd in the ACC with 59 blocks. She has recorded 15 multi-block games this season.
For her career, Igbokwe has 148 blocked shots which currently ranks 9th in program history. She is just 14 shy of 8th place on the list.
Igbokwe is the fastest Pitt player since Gail Aughburns (1980) to record 148 blocked shots. It took Igbokwe just 76 career games to reach the mark.

PITT'S TOP-10 CAREER BLOCKS LIST
# Name               Blocks              Seasons
1. Gail Aughburns 241                1978-82
2. Wanda Randolph 211               1976-79
3. Jennifer Bruce    203                1981-85
4. Nickeia Morris 190 1996-00
5. Connie Hurt 189 1987-91
6. Chelsea Cole 171 2007-11
7. Kim Tirik 170 1982-86
8. Jill McElhinny 162                1989-93
9. Rita Igbokwe 148 2019-Present
10. Jennifer Shingler 147             1986-90

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