TicketsFeb. 13, 2007
, - The University of could not overcome its worst first half of the season, despite shooting a blistering 53 percent in the second period. (20-5, 8-4 BIG EAST) held on for the 55-44 BIG EAST win Tuesday night at the .
UC's Emy Ogide provided the biggest offensive production for the Bearcats with her 12 points. Treasure Humphries added nine points for UC's cause. Humphries and Shelly Bellman dished out a game-high four assists.
Scoring was at a premium for both teams in the opening stanza, but Panthers came out on the better end and doubled UC's point production, 28-14. The Bearcats (13-11, 4-8 BIG EAST) struggled to their worst first half of the season, mustering only the 14 points and shooting 24 percent (5-of-21). Angel Morgan scored five points and grabbed four rebounds to pace . Pitt's Shavonte Zellous poured in 12 points and had five rebounds.
Morgan sank the first basket of the contest at the 19:34 mark to give the Bearcats their lone lead of the contest. The Panthers used a 10-0 run to go up by eight with 15:40 to play in the first half. The Bearcats converted just five field goals in the half: one at the following times in the game: 19:34, 15:17, 11:51, 5:06 and 2:13.
"We didn't hit baskets," said UC head coach Laurie Pirtle. "We shot just 23 percent in the first half. We guarded a very good team well, but we just couldn't function on offense."
UC outscored Pitt, 30-27, in the second period and shot 12-of-23 from the field for 52 percent. The Bearcats fell behind by as many as 19 points at the 15:48 mark of the second half, but never went away and kept chipping away at the Panthers' lead. Pitt's second leading scorer, Marcedes Walker fouled out with 4:53 to play. She finished with 11 points. An Ogide lay up with 1:37 to play, cut the lead to single digits for the first time since the 8:48 mark of the first half when Pitt led 16-8. The basket made the score, 53-44, but the Bearcats failed to sink two of the 3-point field goals they attempted in the final minute. Shavonte Zellous led all scorers with 25 points.
The Bearcat bench outscored Pitt's, 16-1. UC outrebounded the Panthers, 30-27, marking the 20th time in 24 games the Bearcats have won the battle of the boards this season.
"This is a tough place to play and Pitt is a great team," said Pirtle. "I'm proud of the team and the positive attitude they had throughout the game. We're going to build on that and strive for a four-game win streak down the stretch."
The Bearcats play a BIG EAST conference game at this Saturday, Feb. 17 at 2 p.m. in