First Half Struggles Cost Pitt in Daytona Beach Invitational Opener

Friday, November 29

Daytona Beach, FL

3:30 PM

Pitt

2-4

Ohio University

5-1

Pitt

Ohio

First Half Struggles Cost Pitt in Daytona Beach Invitational Opener

11/29/2019 7:41:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score Season Stats

DAYTONA BEACH, Fl. – The University of Pittsburgh women's basketball team (2-4, 0-0 ACC) fell in the opening game of the Daytona Beach Invitational at the Ocean Center on Friday afternoon to the Ohio Bobcats, 72-50. Ohio improved to 5-1 overall on the season with the win.

One of the only bright spots on Friday was the play of freshman post Rita Igbokwe who had a monster game on the glass for the Panthers in the loss. The Jonesboro, Ga. Native finished off her game with career-highs in minutes (29), points (nine), rebounds (18) and blocks (six) while going 4-for-7 from the floor. The 18-rebound effort by Igbokwe marked the most rebounds in a game by a Pitt player since Chelsea Cole ripped down 22 boards against Seton Hall on Feb. 20, 2010 and her six rejections were the most in a game by a Pitt player since Yacine Diop had six swats on Dec. 9, 2017.

After Amber Brown opened the scoring with a layup just over 15 seconds into the game, the Bobcats were able to take charge as they raced out to a 10-4 lead after a layup and free throw by Erica Johnson. The Bobcats earned their biggest lead of the first quarter, 16-6, with three minutes left but Igbokwe was able to score in back-to-back possessions to cut the Bobcat lead to five, 18-13. Ohio ended the first with a corner triple to take the 21-13 lead into the second quarter.

The Bobcats were able to run away from the Panthers in the second quarter and they never looked back as they outscored Pitt 21-11 in the quarter and took the 42-24 lead into the locker room. A free throw from Brown cut the Ohio lead to five, 21-16, early in the second but the Bobcats went on a 21-8 run to close the quarter.

Ohio was able to extend their lead out to as much as 26 in the third quarter as the Panthers weren't able to get anything going offensively.

Trailing 60-36 entering the final quarter, Pitt was able to outscore the Bobcats 14-12 in the final frame as they dropped their second straight. Igbokwe had a big final quarter for the Panthers as she netted three points and seven boards while disrupting play down low with her shot blocking ability.

Brown finished off her second straight game with 14 points to go along with four boards while Aysia Bugg was the only other Panther in double figures as she netted 10 points and five rebounds in the loss. Dayshanette Harris finished her night with nine points, three rebounds and two assists across just 20 minutes of action.

For the game, Pitt shot just 31.6% from the floor including going 1-for-15 from behind the arc while the Bobcats shot 32.4% and drained nine triples. The Panthers were strong on the glass once again in the loss as they grabbed 49 boards including 14 offensive rebounds.

Ohio was led offensively by Gabby Burris who netted 17 points and six rebounds while Amani Burke (13) and Katie Barker (12) also scored in double figures in the win for the Bobcats.

NEXT UP

Pitt will wrap up action at the Daytona Beach Invitational on Saturday evening as they take on SEC foe Ole Miss at 5:45 pm inside the Ocean Center.
The three-game road swing will come to a close on Thursday, Dec. 5 as the Panthers head to Happy Valley to take on Penn State at 7:00 pm in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.

PITT NOTES
TEAM

With the loss, Pitt now owns an 8-1 record all-time against the Bobcats.
The Panthers fall to 21-10 all-time against members of the Mid-American Conference.
Pitt grabbed a season-high 49 rebounds in the loss including 14 offensive boards.
All nine Pitt players grabbed at least one rebound while seven Panthers scored at least two points in the loss.

Rita Igbokwe

Finished with a career-high nine points, 18 rebounds and six blocks across a career-high 29 minutes of work.
Went 4-for-7 from the floor while grabbing five offensive rebounds and 13 defensive boards in the loss.
The 18-rebound effort are the most by a Pitt player in a game since 2010.
The six blocks are the most in a game by a Pitt player since 2017.

Amber Brown

Tied a career-high with 14 points and four rebounds across 35 minutes of action.
Finished off the game going 6-for-13 from the floor and 2-for-4 from the charity stripe.
She has now recorded four or more rebounds in all six of her career games.
She has played 30+ minutes in five straight games.

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