Pitt Panthers Lose ACC Road Game
Nov 20, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; The Pittsburgh Panthers huddle on the court before playing the Michigan Wolverines at the Petersen Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
The Pitt Panthers women’s basketball team fell 62-45 to 17th ranked Duke Thursday. The loss now has the Panthers with a 13-7 overall record, 3-4 ACC record and 2-4 road record.
Pitt was led by senior guard Brianna Kiesel who scored 13 points. Sophomore guard Fred Potvin also reached double figures with 11 points. Senior forward Monica Wignot contributed eight points to the loss.
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Duke (15-6, 6-2 ACC) was led by forward Azura Stevens who had a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Forward Oderah Chidom also had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, while guard Rebecca Greenwell also provided 10 points for the Blue Devils.
There were two main reasons for this Panthers loss. The first was that Pitt was out-rebounded 44-26 with Wignot and freshman forward Yacine Diop each sharing team leading honors with five each. A second reason was that the Panthers shot 29 percent from the field. Rarely if ever does that win any games. Pitt also was outscored 34-16 in the paint.
What Pitt did do well was that it forced 25 Duke turnovers while grabbing 25 turnovers. While the Blue Devils did shoot 50 percent from the field for the game, this does show the Panthers defense definitely did provide problems.
Duke opened the game on a 26-12 run with 5:47 to play in the first half and extended the lead to 36-20 at halftime. It benched outscored Pitt’s 11-5, had a 10-5 points off turnover advantage and 18-4 with points in the paint.
The lowest the Blue Devil advantage in the second half was 13 with 8:01 to play when forward Stasha Carey made a jumper, however Duke responded with a 6-0 run to regain momentum.
Pitt’s 17 point loss is its largest of the season after losing by 16 to James Madison on Nov. 23. The Panthers will next have a home contest against ACC opponent Miami scheduled for a 1 pm tip-off.
My take: Pitt in my mind is still an NCAA Tournament team. With that being said, its case can be even stronger if it won some road games. 2-4 is not ideal although none of the road games has been easy. The Georgia Tech win showed a lot but a 12-9 NC State and eighth ranked Louisville are the next two road contests and these will further test the Panthers. It all starts with Miami which is 15-5, 5-2 ACC and this will be a tremendous test for Pitt. How it responds may show how the upcoming road trip will go.