Panthers Knock Off Virginia In Pink The Pete Game Sunday, 60-51

Sunday, February 5

Pittsburgh, Pa.

2:00 PM

Pitt

8-15,1-11ACC

Virginia

14-10,3-10ACC

Virginia

Pittsburgh

Photo by: Alex Mowrey/Pitt Athletics

Panthers Knock Off Virginia In Pink The Pete Game Sunday, 60-51

2/5/2023 5:46:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score Season Stats Press Conference Photo Gallery

PITTSBURGH – Behind a strong third quarter surge, the Pitt women's basketball team (8-15, 1-11 ACC) earned a decisive home victory over the Virginia Cavaliers on Sunday afternoon inside the Petersen Events Center. Pitt earned their first ACC win of the season as they celebrated their 16^th annual Pink The Pete game to raise awareness for breast cancer and raise funds for breast cancer research.

Dayshanette Harris led the Panthers offensive attack in the win as she netted 14 points, 12 coming in the third quarter, to go along with five rebounds, two assists and two steals while Liatu King finished off her big afternoon with 10 points, nine rebounds, four blocks and two steals. Maliyah Johnson had another strong game as she finished with 10 points and eight rebounds while Channise Lewis came off the bench and finished with 10 points and three assists while knocking down three triples in the win.

The Pitt defense was the difference in the game as they held the Cavaliers to just 27% shooting including 20% from behind the arc while forcing Virginia into 16 turnovers which turned into 17 points for the Panthers in the win.

ESSENTIAL GAME INFO
Pitt starting lineup: Marley Washenitz, Maliyah Johnson, Emy Hayford, Gabby Hutcherson, Amber Brown
Virginia starting lineup: Camryn Taylor, London Clarkson, Taylor Valladay, Yonta Vaughn, Mckenna Dale
Records: Pitt (8-15, 1-11 ACC) | Virginia (14-10, 3-10 ACC)
Location: Petersen Events Center | Pittsburgh, PA

GAME FLOW
Largest lead: Pitt – 13 | Virginia - 4
Lead changes: 4
Times tied: 1
Time with lead: Pitt – 32:26 | Virginia – 6:36
Points off turnovers: Pitt - 17 | Virginia - 14
Points in paint: Pitt – 20 | Virginia - 18
Second chance points: Pitt – 8 | Virginia - 17
Fast break points: Pitt – 8 | Virginia - 0
Bench points: Pitt – 37 | Virginia - 9

FIRST QUARTER

Marley Washenitz opened the scoring for the Panthers with a straight away triple but the Cavaliers responded with the next six points to take the 6-3 lead early on.
The Cavaliers pushed their lead to 9-5 right after the media timeout but Pitt came fighting back as Channise Lewis drained a triple and Emy Hayford finished off a contested layup to give the Panthers the 14-9 lead with just over a minute to go in the first.
After a Virginia triple, Amber Brown finished off a circus shot layup through contact to give Pitt the 16-12 lead through 10 minutes.

SECOND QUARTER

The Cavaliers opened the second quarter with five straight points to take the 17-16 lead but Lewis responded with back-to-back triples to force the Virginia timeout and give Pitt the 22-17 lead with just over six minutes to play in the half.
The Hoos came back and made it a two-point game, 23-21, but the Panthers ended the quarter with triples by Aislin Malcolm and Washenitz to head to the locker room with the 29-22 lead.
Pitt outscored Virginia 13-10 in the second quarter as they secured a halftime lead of seven.

THIRD QUARTER

The Cavaliers came out strong early in the third quarter as they tied the game, 31-31, just over two minutes in as they finished off a four-point play and a three-pointer on back-to-back possessions.
After a Pitt timeout, the Panthers were able to regain the lead as Harris took over the scoring load. The senior scored 10 straight points for Pitt as she netted a triple and an old fashion three-point play to give Pitt the 43-31 lead late in the quarter.
The Cavaliers cut the Pitt lead to nine, 45-36, late in the fourth but Harris responded with the final bucket of the quarter, a contested layup to send the Panthers to the fourth with the 47-36 lead.

FOURTH QUARTER

Virginia tried to get back into the game early in the fourth as they went on a 7-0 run just over two minutes in to cut the deficit to 48-43.
Pitt however, didn't flinch as Johnson and the Panthers defense took over. The sophomore scored six of the next eight for Pitt while the defense forced multiple turnovers and only allowed four points across the next four minutes. Pitt built the lead back up to nine, 56-47, late in the quarter.
The Panthers made their free throws down the stretch to secure the 60-51 home win over the Cavaliers.

TEAM STATS

Pitt finished the game shooting 35.2% from the floor while they held the Cavaliers to just 27% shooting.
The Cavaliers held the 50-38 edge in rebounds, but the Panthers were able to outscore Virginia 20-18 in the paint in the win.
Pitt forced 16 Virginia turnovers while they only committed 14 turnovers on the offensive end of the court.
The Pitt bench was impressive as they scored 37 points compared to just nine points by the Virginia reserves.

UP NEXT

Pitt hits the road for their next two games starting Thursday night as they travel to South Bend, IN to take on #9 Notre Dame at 6pm on ACC Network.
The Panthers will then head to Georgia Tech Sunday for a 2pm game on ACC Network Extra.

PITT NOTES
Team

With the win, Pitt is now 6-6 all-time against the Cavaliers and they snapped a four-game losing streak.
Pitt improves to 4-2 at the Petersen Events Center against the Cavaliers all-time.
The Panthers improved to 8-1 on the year when shooing a higher percentage from the floor than their opponent.
Pitt also improved to 6-1 on the year when holding their opponent to 59 points or less.

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