Pitt Drops ACC Road Opener at Miami
1/7/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – In its ACC road opener, the University of Pittsburgh women’s basketball team was defeated by Miami 79-55 on Thursday evening at the BankUnited Center.
Freshmen Brenna Wise and Tania Lamb registered career highs with 15 and 12 points, respectively. For Wise, it was her sixth straight game scoring in double figures, while Lamb scored all 12 of her points in the fourth quarter. Fellow freshman Kalista Walters added 11 points, which was her team-high tenth time scoring in double digits.
It was a rough night from the floor for the Panthers, who shot 36.4 percent for the game (24-of-66). Pitt was 3-of-15 from downtown and Lamb provided all three of those 3-pointers.
Miami’s up-tempo pace caused trouble for the Panthers who turned the ball over 23 times and allowed Miami to hold a 24-6 advantage in fast-break points.
Miami (14-2, 2-1 ACC) led Pitt (8-7, 0-2 ACC) 13-12 at the end of the first quarter. Walters had six points in the quarter, and despite Yacine Diop being early foul trouble, Brittany Gordon provided solid contributions off the bench.
The Canes though, opened the second quarter on a 10-0 run which included a pair of 3-pointers from Adrienne Motley and forced Pitt into a timeout with 7:12 left in the first half.
Miami made four triples in the second quarter which allowed the Canes to take a 37-22 lead into halftime. Wise scored seven points in the quarter for the Panthers, but Motley continued to lead the Hurricanes and had a game-high 12 points at the break.
Keyona Hayes helped the Canes open the third quarter on a 9-4 run and forced the Panthers into another quick timeout trailing by 20 (46-26) with 7:24 left in the third.
The Hurricanes ultimately made 12 of their 17 shots in the third quarter and took a 66-37 lead into the fourth quarter.
Lamb did all she could to spark the Panthers in the final 10 minutes, but it was too little too late as the Hurricanes went on for the 24 point victory.
Motley finished with a game-high 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting and the Canes shot 52.5 percent overall for the game (31-of-59). Michelle Woods added 11 points, nine rebounds and nine assists.
The Panthers return to the Petersen Events Center on Sunday afternoon to host NC State. Chancellor Patrick Gallagher will host Faculty Family and Friends Day against the Wolfpack.