Nov. 10, 2009

Box Score |  Quotes

PITTSBURGH — Shayla Scott scored 20 points, Jania Sims added 14 and the No. 22 Pitt women’s basketball team took down Seton Hill, 91-60, on Tuesday night at the Petersen Events Center. It was the final preseason contest of the year for the Panthers.

“I’m really excited that we got that one under our belt,” said Pitt head coach Agnus Berenato, whose daughter Clare is a freshman guard for the Griffins. “It meant the world because it gave us the opportunity to see where we were.”

After trading baskets through much of the first period, Pitt used a 21-3 run at the end of the half to help build a 47-37 lead at the break. The Panthers’ defense clamped down on Seton Hill during that span, maintaining constant pressure and forcing turnovers to create scoring opportunities on the other end.

That translated into success in the second half, too, when Pitt held the Griffins to 7-of-25 shooting and outscored them by 21. For the game, Pitt forced 19 turnovers and outrebounded Seton Hill 48-29.

“It was a two-point or three-point game, and I said to the team, ‘We need to crack this open and we need to go into the locker room leading by 10,’” Berenato said. “We did. And once we came out in the second half, I think we showed we could dominate.”

It was the first game back in nearly a year for Sims, who suffered a season-ending injury during the first game of the 2008-09 season. Pitt’s standout point guard was an impressive 6-of-10 shooting and led all players with eight assists.

“I was really, really excited,” Sims said. “When the tipoff came, I was settled down. It felt good to be back in uniform.”

Scott began the scoring for Pitt with a 3-pointer in the first half and eight more points in the first period of play. She then started the second half off with a 3-pointer to extend Pitt’s lead to 13, and the Panthers didn’t look back after that.

As a team, Pitt had 23 assists to 10 turnovers, many of which came in the closing minutes of the game.

Jordan Burkes led the Griffins with 17 points, six rebounds and four assists.

The starting five for Pitt consisted of Sims and Taneisha Harrison at guard, Scott, Kate Popovec at forward and Selena Nwude at center. Harrison scored 13 points while Popovec added nine and Nwude had eight. Popovec’s 10 rebounds led all players.

The Panthers open up the regular season Tuesday, Nov. 17, against North Florida at 11 a.m. at the Petersen Events Center. For ticket information, contact the Pittsburgh Panthers Ticket Office at 1-800-643-PITT.