Pitt Visits Ohio State for ACC/Big Ten Challenge
12/2/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
| PITT (4-2) at OHIO STATE (4-3) | |||
| Date | Wednesday, December 3, 7 p.m. ET | ||
| Location | Value City Arena (19,049) / Columbus, Ohio | ||
| Television | BTN Plus (fees apply) | ||
| Radio | WJAS 1320 AM | ||
| Live Stats | |||
| Game Notes | Game Notes | ||
| Promotions | ACC/Big Ten Challenge | ||
| Social Media | @PittWomensHoops - Twitter / Instagram / #PITTvsOSU | ||
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Participating in its first ever ACC/Big Ten Challenge, the University of Pittsburgh women's basketball will travel to Ohio State to face the Buckeyes on Wednesday evening at 7 p.m.
Pitt brings a two-game winning streak to Columbus and enters the contest at 4-2 overall, while Ohio State is 4-3. The game can be een online on the BTN Plus for a fee, while live stats will be available by . Fans can also receive in-game updates by following @PittWomensHoops on Twitter and Instagram.
THE KEY MATCHUP:
The Panthers rank second in the ACC in 3-point field goals made per game at 7.7 a contest. The Buckeyes are allowing 10.9 made 3-pointers per game, so the battle from behind the arc will be key.
Brianna Kiesel and Fred Potvin lead Pitt's 3-point barrage. Kiesel is shooting the rock at an all-time high from long range and ranks fourth in the ACC at 54.4 from behind the arc (12-of-22). Potvin started slow, but has since made 15-of-26 from 3-point range, including nine of her last 13.
WIGNOT LEADING THE ACC IN BLOCKS:
It's ironic that a former volleyball player would be leading the ACC in blocks, but that is exactly what Monica Wignot is doing. The graduate student is averaging 3.2 bpg and has had at least three rejections in five of her six games this season.
Wignot has been a stat-stuffer this season and is coming off a week in which she averaged 16.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 4.0 blocks per game. Along with leading the ACC in blocks, she ranks 15th in assists per game (3.3) and sixth in assists/turnover ratio (2.5).
PITT SHOOTS LIGHTS OUT VS. LOYOLA; SETS SCHOOL RECORD FOR BLOCKS:
The Panthers are coming off a season-best 54.8 percent shooting effort vs. Loyola. They made 22 of their 31 shots in the first half (71 percent) and led 54-22 at the break. Pitt was a season-best 64.7 percent from behind the arc (11-of-17).
Pitt also tallied a school-record 14 blocks against the Greyhounds, led by Wignot with four. She led six players who had at least two blocks each.
SCOUTING OHIO STATE:
If the Panthers want to win, they will have to slow down Ohio State's two-headed monster in Kelsey Mitchell and Ameryst Alston, who are averaging 27.0 and 24.0 points per game, respectively. The two have combined to take 257 of the team's 460 total shots (55.9 percent), and have made 116 of the team's 202 total field goals (57.4 percent). Alexa Hart, the team's third leading scorer, is also averaging a team-best 7.7 rebounds. OSU averages 83.0 ppg, while the Pitt defense allows just 58.3 ppg.
LOOKING AHEAD:
After the Buckeyes, Pitt will play the annual City Game on Sunday afternoon vs. Duquesne at the Palumbo Center at 2 p.m.
