Panthers Open Up ACC Play At Home Friday Against #2 NC State

PITTSBURGH – The Pitt women's basketball team (8-2, 0-0 ACC) opens up their ACC slate on Friday evening as they welcome #2 NC State to the Petersen Events Center for a 6:00pm tip. The Panthers will be in search of their fourth straight win while the Wolfpack look for their ninth straight victory.

HOW TO FOLLOW

Friday's game will air live on ACC Network with Roy Philpott and Brooke Weisbrod on the call. You can watch the game 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 NC STATE

This marks the 11^th meeting of all-time between the two programs with NC State holding the 8-2 lead in the series.
The Wolfpack won the last meeting between the two, 83-53 in Raleigh, and have won a total of six straight against Pitt.
NC State is 4-0 in the series in games played in Pittsburgh.

STORYLINES

The Panthers have continued to put an emphasis on rebounding the basketball and it has paid off in a major way. Pitt currently ranks 1st in the NCAA in total rebounds (483), 4th in rebounds per game (48.3), 7th in defensive rebounds per game (31.5) and 9th in offensive rebounds per game (16.8). The Panthers have posted four games with 50+ rebounds this season, the most in a season for them since 2009-10.
Pitt has been able to get to the free throw line at a high rate as they rank 1st in the NCAA in free throw attempts (253) while ranking 2nd in free throws made (158). Junior Amber Brown leads the ACC and ranks 9th in the NCAA in free throw attempts (62).

THE OPENING TIP

The Panthers open up their ACC schedule Friday night as they welcome #2 NC State to the Petersen Events Center. Friday's game will air live on ACC Network.
Junior Amber Brown is having a career year for the Panthers as last time out she netted 20 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals in the win over Coppin State. Over her last three games, Brown is averaging 16.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists while shooting 60.7% from the floor while leading Pitt to three wins.
The Panthers depth has been very evident as Pitt and Duke are the only two teams in the ACC that have at least 10 players averaging at least 3.3 ppg on the year.

LAST TIME OUT – COPPIN STATE

The Panthers moved to 8-2 on the season with a 67-51 home win over Coppin State. It marked their best start to a season since 2009-10 (9-1).
Amber Brown was the Panthers' best player as she netted a career-high 20 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals while going 7-of-11 from the floor in the win.
Jayla Everett finished off her night with 15 points on three triples while Liatu King snagged a game-high 15 rebounds.
As a team, Pitt held the 47-44 edge in rebounds while shooting 40.3% from the floor and holding the Eagles to just 23.4% (a season-low against Pitt).

DEFENSE, DEFENSE, DEFENSE

The Panthers have been getting it done on the defensive end of the court early on as they are forcing teams into turnovers and poor shooting.
So far this season, Pitt is holding opponents to just 32.8% from the floor and 27.2% from behind the arc. It marks the lowest percentage from the floor through 10 games by an opponent since 2009-10 (31.9%).
Pitt ranks 4th in the ACC and 16th in the NCAA in field goal percentage defense (32.8%).
The Panthers have held four opponents to 30% or less shooting from the floor through 10 games. It marks the most such games since 2017-18 when Pitt held four opponents to less than 30% from the floor out of 30 games played.
The Panthers have shot a higher percentage from the floor than their opponents seven times this season and they own a 6-1 record in those contests. Since White took over the program, Pitt is 23-10 when they shoot better than their opponent.
The Pitt defense forced LIU into 27 turnovers earlier this season which marked the most Pitt has forced in a game since Dec. 21, 2018 against St. Francis (PA).
Pitt has held each of the last three opponents to under 55 points scored and they notched three wins. Pitt owns a 5-0 record under White when holding opponents to 50 or less points and a 16-5 record when holding opponents to less than 60 points.

WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR YOU

Junior Amber Brown has turned into one of the most reliable players on the Pitt roster since joining the squad three years ago.
The do-it-all player is averaging 27.8 mpg, 10.0 ppg, 6.6 rpg and 1.9 apg so far this season while starting all 10 games.
Last time out, Brown exploded for a career-high 20 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals in the win over Coppin State.
She now has six career double-doubles with five coming during her impressive freshman season.
Over her last three games, all wins, Brown is averaging 16.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists while shooting 60.7% from the floor.
Brown has started all 60 games over the past three seasons while averaging a team-high 29.1 mpg for her career.
A tenacious rebounder, Brown surpassed the 400 career rebound plateau (59 games) in the win over Ball State. She is the second fastest Pitt player to 400 career rebounds since Pitt joined the ACC in 2013-14 (Brenna Wise - 56 games).
She currently has 519 points, 419 rebounds and 91 career assists in 60 games played. With nine more assists in her next four games or less, she will become the fastest Panther in over 20 years with at least 500 points, 400 rebounds and 100 assists.
Since joining the squad, Brown has recorded 13 games with 10+ rebounds. She has also snagged at least five rebounds in 46 of her 60 career games.

TICKET & TOY DRIVE

Panther fans can support underserved children in Pittsburgh through our Ticket and Toy Drive Promotion at our ACC opener against NC State (6 p.m.) Dec. 10. Proceeds from each ticket sale will go back to helping provide gifts this holiday season. Fans are encouraged to bring new, unwrapped gifts to the Pete on game day to donate as well. Tickets can be purchased online at https://fevo.me/pitttoydrive or by contacting the Panthers Ticket Office at 1-800-643-7488.

NEXT UP

Pitt will have nine days off before returning to the court on Sunday, Dec. 19 at Notre Dame. The game against the Fighting Irish will tip at 2:00 pm on ACC Network Extra.

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