Pitt
2-0
Saint Francis (Pa.)
0-2
Walters Leads Pitt Past Saint Francis, 74-59
11/16/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
LORETTO, Pa. - Freshman forward Kalista Walters scored a career-high 26 points to lead the University of Pittsburgh women's basketball team past Saint Francis University 74-59 on Monday night at DeGol Arena.
Walters was lights out, making 12-of-14 shots and added eight rebounds. She was the only Pitt player to score in double figures.
The Panthers (2-0) shot 40 percent for the game, and held Saint Francis (0-2) to 26.8 percent, marking the second straight game the Panthers have held their opponent to under 30 percent shooting to open the season.
"Kalista was impressive tonight," head coach Suzie McConnell-Serio said. "She was so efficient on the block but also showed her versatility by hitting perimeter jumpers. It was an emphasis from the beginning to attack Saint Francis on the block."
Walters opened the game on fire, scoring the first five points for the Panthers and nine of the first 15, helping Pitt lead 15-6 at the first media timeout.
The Panthers were then hindered by early foul trouble, compiling seven team fouls in the first quarter which allowed SFU to score six of its 10 first quarter points from the line. Pitt led 19-10 after one.
Saint Francis scored eight of the first 10 points of the second quarter to get within three (21-18), but Walters remained on fire, scoring an additional eight points in the second to help the Panthers take a 35-20 lead into halftime.
Walters put up 17 points in the first half on a perfect 8-of-8 shooting to go along with six rebounds.
The Panthers busted the game wide open in the beginning of the third quarter, opening the half on a 13-2 run to take a commanding 48-22 lead. Destinie Gibbs' layup with two seconds remaining in the quarter gave Pitt a 57-36 lead after three.
Junior Fred Potvin scored seven of her nine points in the fourth quarter and helped keep the Red Flash at a distance down the stretch. She also added a career-best six rebounds.
The Panthers grabbed 51 rebounds in the victory as six Pitt players had at least five rebounds. The Panthers also out-scored SFU 38-24 in the paint.
The Red Flash received a team-high 14 points from Jessica Kovatch as she led three players in double figures.
The Panthers return to the Petersen Events Center on Friday night to host Delaware State at 5:30 p.m.
