Pitt Looks To Stay Unbeaten As LIU Visits Wednesday Night

PITTSBURGH - The Pitt women's basketball team (2-0, 0-0 ACC) looks to extend their winning streak to three Wednesday night as they welcome the LIU Sharks to the Petersen Events Center for a 6:00 pm tip. Wednesday's game will air on ACC Network Extra with Jason Earle (PxP) and Hailey Zeise (Analyst) on the call.

HOW TO FOLLOW

Wednesday's game will be aired live on ACC Network Extra by clicking HERE.
You can also listen to the game on the radio on WJAS 1320 AM or 99.1 FM as the voice of Pitt women's basketball, Josh Rowntree, will have the call from the Pete starting at 5:45 pm. Listen to the call by clicking HERE.
Live stats of the game can be found by clicking HERE.
Live updates throughout the game will also be posted on Twitter by following the Pitt women's basketball account @Pitt_WBB.

THE SERIES WITH LIU

This meeting marks the first between the two programs.
Pitt currently owns a 30-3 all-time record against teams from the Northeast Conference.

STORYLINES

The Panthers have continued to put an emphasis on rebounding the basketball and it has worked early on. Pitt currently leads the ACC and ranks sixth in the NCAA rebounds per game (53.0). Pitt also leads and ranks 2nd in the NCAA in offensive rebounds per game (22.0). The Panthers' rebound margin of +23.5 currently ranks fifth in the NCAA.
Senior captain Jayla Everett has opened her second season as a Panther with back-to-back 20-point games while Pitt has notched two wins. She is the first Panther to net back-to-back 20+ point games to open the season since Shavonte Zellous during the 2008-09 season.

THE OPENING TIP

Pitt will play their third game of the season Wednesday night as they welcome the LIU Sharks to the Petersen Events Center for a 6:00 pm tip on ACCNX.
The Pitt offense is off to a hot start as they are averaging 77.0 ppg while shooting 45.7% from the floor through two games. They shot over 45% from the floor in both games, marking the first time they have opened the season with back-to-back games shooting 45% or better.
Junior center Rita Igbokwe led Pitt to the win over Lafayette on Friday night as she netted a career-high 23 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks. Igbokwe is the first Panther since Stasha Carey on Jan. 21, 2016 to record at least 23 points and 13 rebounds in a game.

LAST TIME OUT – LAFAYETTE

Leading by as much as 20 in the first half, the Panthers held on down the stretch to earn the victory over Lafayette Friday night, 72-63.
Rita Igbokwe exploded for 23 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks on 11-of-15 from the floor to lead Pitt to victory. Jayla Everett added her second straight 20-point game as she finished with 20 points, four blocks, two rebounds, two assists and two steals in the win.
Pitt dominated the paint once again Friday as they held the 46-24 edge against the Leopards.

IGBOKWE FLASHES GREATNESS

Junior center Rita Igbokwe has made huge strides on the offensive end of the court in the offseason and she will be relied on to provide scoring down low for Pitt this season.
Igbokwe erupted in the win over Lafayette as she posted a career-high 23 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks in 26 minutes of work. She also went an efficient 11-of-15 from the floor in the win.
The 23-point and 13-rebound game marked her third career double-double. It was also the first time a Pitt player has netted at least 23 points and 13 rebounds in a game since Stasha Carey had 26 points and 13 rebounds against Boston College on Jan. 21, 2016.
Igbokwe is one of two players in the NCAA this season ((Ayoka Lee, Kansas St.) to have a game with at least 23 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks.
Igbokwe has posted 94 career blocks and has led Pitt in blocked shots in each of the last two seasons. She is looking to become the first Pitt player since Nickeia Morris, from 1996 to 1999, to lead the team in blocked shots in three straight seasons.
Over her Pitt career, Igbokwe has led the team in blocked shots 31 times while posting multiple blocks in a game 24 times.
On the glass, she reached the 300 career rebounds plateau in her 43rd game, marking the second fastest by a Pitt player since joining the ACC (Amber Brown).

HAYFORD OFF TO STRONG START

Junior Emy Hayford has taken over the point guard duties and ran with it for Pitt. Hayford is enjoying a career year as she is averaging 24.0 mpg, 9.5 ppg, 4.5 apg and 3.0 rpg while shooting 61.5% from the floor.
Hayford currently leads the ACC and ranks eighth in the NCAA in assist/turnover ratio (8.0).
She opened her season with a career-high 15 points, three rebounds and three assists on 7-of-8 from the floor in the win over Radford.
Last time out, Hayford posted a career-high six assists in a season-high 28 minutes of work in the win over Lafayette.

NEXT UP

Pitt will hit the road for their first away from the Pete Saturday night as they head to crosstown rival Duquesne for the City Game. Saturday's game will tip at 8:00 pm in the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.

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