Panthers Down UTEP, 71-46, at Patrick Harrington Classic

Monday, December 19

Niceville, Fla.

6:00 PM

Pitt

8-3

UTEP

2-8

Pitt

UTEP

Panthers Down UTEP, 71-46, at Patrick Harrington Classic

12/19/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Dec. 19, 2016

Box Score | Final Book

NICEVILLE, Fla. - Sophomore forward Brenna Wise posted her fourth double-double of the season for Pitt women's basketball (8-3, 0-0 ACC) as the Panthers defeated UTEP (2-8, 0-0 Conference USA), 71-46, at the inaugural Patrick Harrington Classic at Raider Arena in Niceville, Fla., Monday night.

It was Wise's second double-double in her last three outings, and the 11th of her career. She recorded team highs of 18 points and 10 rebounds. Graduate transfer center Brandi Harvey-Carr also had 18 points, marking a career high, to go along with five rebounds. Rounding out double-figure scoring for Pitt was Aysia Bugg and Kalista Walters with 10 points apiece.

The Panthers jumped out to a 6-0 lead at 5:40 after two jump shots by Bugg and one by Harvey-Carr. Wise hit four consecutive free throws to give Pitt a 10-2 lead at the 4:23 mark. Destinie Gibbs, who made the first start of her career, knocked down two more from the charity stripe to give the Panthers their first double-figure lead of the game (14-4) with 1:20 left in the period. Pitt ended the quarter with a 16-8 advantage on the Miners.

After UTEP opened the second set with a basket to cut it to a six-point Pitt lead, the Panthers answered with an 18-6 run to make it 34-16 with 2:48 left in the half. Pitt finished with its largest halftime lead (37-20) since holding a 32-point margin over Slippery Rock (Nov. 23).

After Harvey-Carr hit a triple to give Pitt a 20-point margin at 8:32 (44-22) in the third, the Miners outscored the Panthers 8-4 over the next four minutes to chip away at the lead (46-30). However, Pitt kept its composure and re-gained a 20-point advantage at the 3:50 mark after a Wise breakaway layup. As the teams posted 19 points apiece, the Panthers ended the third period on top, 56-39.

Harvey-Carr hit back-to-back layups to make it 60-40 with 7:50 remaining in the game, and hit her second 3-pointer of the game (a career high) to extend the margin to 63-44 at 6:20. To finish the game, Pitt outscored the Miners 8-2 to seal the final score at 71-46.

After starting a perfect 10-of-10 from the free throw line, the Panthers finished the game 12-of-16 (.750). They out-shot the Miners from the field (.443 to .310), and held the advantage on the boards (41-38).

WITH THE WIN…

- The Panthers improved to 8-3 overall, extending their best start to a season since 2014-15 when they earned the same record.
- Pitt earned its first win against UTEP, as the teams' first meeting was Monday. Tuesday's tilt with McNeese State is another first meeting for Pitt.
= The Panthers earned their first win away from Pittsburgh this season (1-1), as well as their first non-conference win away from the Steel City since defeating Old Dominion, 67-58, at the Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands Nov. 27, 2015.

EXPERIENCE THE ACTION

All individual tickets for Pitt women's basketball home games are general admission and available for purchase for $5 each by calling the Panthers Ticket Office at 800-643-7488 or by visiting PittsburghPanthers.com. Group tickets and season tickets are also on sale.

UP NEXT

Pitt will play its final game of the Patrick Harrington Classic, taking on McNeese State Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on the radio at 1320-AM WJAS.

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