Pitt
Louisville
Louisville Snaps Pitt's Three-Game Winning Streak
2/8/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 8, 2006
PITTSBURGH - The Pitt women's basketball team pulled down a season-best 58 rebounds, including 31 on the offensive glass, but couldn't make enough of its shots and dropped a 71-63 decision at home to Louisville.
The Panthers (15-7, 6-5 Big East) had their three-game winning streak snapped after being up by three at halftime - only the second time in 15 games this season that Pitt lost a game it led at the break. The Cardinals (15-6, 6-4) shot 46.4 percent from the field and made 17 free throws compared to the Panthers' six for the difference in the game.
The Panthers' domination on the boards wasn't enough to counter Louisville making open shots throughout the second half. Senior Cheron Taylor (Detroit, Mich./Martin Luther King) had a career-best 18 rebounds to go along with eight points and two assists in 36 minutes of action for the Panthers.
"Cheron is giving us every bit of her self, every bit of her body," Pitt head coach Agnus Berenato said after the game. "For her to get 18 rebounds at her size (5-11) is unbelievable."
Helping her out on the glass was freshman Xenia Stewart (Bowie, Md./Riverdale Baptist) with her first career double-double. Stewart had a team-best 14 points to go along with 12 rebounds, 10 of which came on the offensive glass. Marcedes Walker (Philadelphia, Pa./University City) recorded her fifth double-double in the past six games and ninth of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds, including nine offensive boards.
Louisville started hot and went out to a 19-10 lead, thanks to nine points from Katie Olson, who finished with 16 on a perfect 7-of-7 performance from the field. The Panthers went on a 15-4 run, however, to take their first lead of the game at 25-23, with Stewart and Winn making key baskets. Pitt was able to hold on to the lead at the break with a three-point 34-31 advantage.
The Panthers pushed their lead to five points twice early in the second half, but a 12-4 run by the Cardinals pushed the game back in their favor at 45-42 after a lay-up plus one by Jazz Covington, who finished with 14 points, nine rebounds and two assists.
Pitt closed it to one twice, the second coming at 49-48 with 10:05 to go in the game on a lay-up by Winn. A 9-2 run by the Cardinals, however, ended any chance for the Panthers to get any closer or knot the score. Connie Neal scored 15 of her game-high 17 points in the second half and the Cardinals finished with the eight-point win.
Winn finished with 13 points, two rebounds and three assists for the Panthers, while guard Karlyle Lim (Chapel Hill, N.C./East Chapel Hill) played an inspired season-best 21 minutes with six points, four rebounds, three assists and solid defense.
The Panthers will travel to USF to take on the Bulls for the second time this season on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. Pitt defeated USF, 66-64, at the Petersen Events Center on Jan. 8 on a jumper by Winn with 3.1 seconds remaining.
NOTES: Pitt took a season-high 81 shots, but made just 28 for a 34.6 percent clip...the Panthers committed just 12 turnovers after coming into the game among the nation's best at 13.6 per contest...the Cardinals had just eight turnovers with 20 assists on 26 field goals made.
