Pitt
4-1
Old Dominion
1-5
Bugg, Panthers Defeat Old Dominion at Paradise Jam, 67-58
11/27/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ST. THOMAS, Virgin Islands - Led by Aysia Bugg's career high 18 points, the University of Pittsburgh women's basketball team defeated Old Dominion 67-58 on Friday evening at the Paradise Jam in St. Thomas.
Bugg made six of her eight shots, including all five attempts from long range, and also added three assists in the win. She was joined in double figures by Yacine Diop with 13 points and Kalista Walters with 11.
The Panthers (4-1) shot a season-best 48 percent from the floor and made 8-of-11 from downtown. Old Dominion (1-5) was 43.5 percent for the game and also had three players score in double figures, led by Jennie Simms with 17.
"It was a complete team victory tonight," head coach Suzie McConnell-Serio said. "Aysia Bugg had an unbelievable performance, going 5-of-5 from the 3-point line. We got a spark off the bench from Destinie Gibbs and our starting lineup was making shots all night too. I am pleased with how we finished the game. We are still learning how to win close game situations so it was good to see us execute down the stretch."
Pitt made four of its first five shots to open the game and grabbed an early 8-3 lead, but Simms led the Monarchs back with 11 first quarter points as ODU had a 18-14 advantage after the first 10 minutes.
Pitt opened the second quarter on a 13-4 run, and back-to-back triples from Bugg gave the Panthers a 27-22 lead at the under-five media timeout.
The Panthers ultimately outscored ODU 22-15 in the second quarter and led 36-33 at halftime. Pitt shot 51.6 percent in the half, led by Diop with nine points and Bugg with eight. Old Dominion shot 47.4 percent and made all 11 of its free throws.
The two teams played to an even third quarter as each team scored 14 points, and the Panthers led 50-47 heading into the final stanza. Bugg had 14 points after three to pace the Panthers.
The Monarch took a brief lead in the fourth quarter (53-52), and after Bugg's fifth triple of the game, ODU tied it up at 55 on Destinee Young's jumper, but it would be all Panthers in the final 4:30 of the game.
Walters gave Pitt a one point lead at the free throw line, but missed the second and corralled the offensive rebound which resulted in a 3-pointer from Stasha Carey, moving Pitt ahead 59-55.
From that point, Pitt's defense forced ODU to miss six of its final seven shots to end the game and the Panthers made 5-of-6 from the line to secure the victory.
The Panthers dominated in the paint (26-12), and also out-rebounded the Monarch 29-25.
Pitt concludes action at the Paradise Jam on Saturday night against No. 6 Maryland. Click here to watch live, and follow @PittWomensHoops on Twitter and Instagram for in-game updates.
