Pitt
Radford
Panthers Roll to 77-46 Victory Over Radford
11/21/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 21, 2010
PITTSBURGH - Senior Chelsea Cole (Lumberton, N.J.) tallied 19 points and collected 10 rebounds to lead Pitt women's basketball to a 77-46 victory over Radford on Sunday at the Petersen Events Center. The double-double was the 12th of Cole's career.
Senior Jania Sims (Newark, N.J.) added 14 points for the Panthers, who moved to 2-1 on the season.
The Highlanders (1-2) were paced by Brooke McElroy and Breshara Gordon with 13 points each.
Pitt erupted for the game's first 11 points while forcing four Radford turnovers. The Panthers opened the contest with a pair of three-pointers from the left and right wings, respectively. Sims drained the first while classmate Taneisha Harrison (Bowie, Md.) hit the other in front of the Radford bench, pressing the visitors to call a timeout with just under four minutes played.
The Highlanders closed to within 10 points (14-4) at the 13:54 mark, but would get no closer. Pitt used a 21-3 scoring run to take a commanding 35-7 advantage with 6:31 left in the first period. Cole had six points over the spurt while redshirt freshman Leeza Burdgess (Miami, Fla.) and true freshman Ashlee Anderson (Chicago, Ill.) each contributed four points apiece.
Pitt shot 72 percent (18-of-25) in the first half en route to a 51-15 halftime lead. The 72 percent clip was the best for a Panthers team in a half since Nov. 28, 2003 when Pitt connected on 75 percent (18-of-24/2nd half) of its shots versus Central Connecticut State.
The Panthers moved to its largest lead (61-19) on a transition lay-in from Harrison with 14:28 remaining. Radford scored 13 points off of Pitt miscues in the second stanza, but could gain no ground as the Panthers posted the 77-46 victory.
Pitt registered season-highs in steals (10) and blocked shots (10). All 12 players on the Panthers roster saw action with 10 accounting for at least two points.
The Panthers entertain No. 6 Duke at its annual Hometown vs. Hunger night on Wednesday, Nov. 24 at 7 p.m. at the Petersen Events Center. The event is co-sponsored by UMPC Health Plan and benefits the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. A donation of a non-perishable food item will admit fans for just a $1. Season ticket holders can receive a coupon for discounts in the Panthers Team Store located in the lobby of the Petersen Events Center.
Game Notes
•Senior Chelsea Cole has recorded double-digit rebounds in ten-straight contests, dating back to last season. The last time she failed to grab 10 or more boards was versus Louisville on Feb. 14, 2010 (6 rebounds in 22 minutes).
Cole appeared in her 100th career collegiate contest this afternoon.
•The Panthers shot a season-best 57.7 percent from three-point range. Pitt was 4-of-4 from long range in the first half. It marked the first time Pitt was perfect in a half since they hit an identical 4-of-4 versus St. John's on March 1, 2010 - the BIG EAST regular season closer.
The bench scoring (22) was the highest of the season. The 28 points Pitt scored off of turnovers was also a season-best. The previous was 19 versus Youngtown State.
•With the win, the Panthers improved to 15-6 against teams from the state of Virginia and 2-0 versus squads currently in the Big South Conference.
•Senior Shayla Scott has recorded 13 of her team-leading 14 assists at Pitt's two home games. She had five dimes on the afternoon.
•Senior Jania Sims has had double-digit scoring numbers in each of Pitt's three contests this season with her 14 points this afternoon. In addition, Sims has not shot no worse than 54 percent in any of the three games. The guard connected on 55.6 of her opportunities against Radford (5-of-9).
