Nov. 20, 2005

Box Score

BURLINGTON, VT-Pitt was led by its captains-senior Cheron Taylor, junior Mallorie Winn and sophomore Marcedes Walker-to the TD Banknorth Classic title with a 70-49 win over Vermont in front of a crowd of 1048 fans at Patrick Gym on Vermont's campus. Winn was named the tournament MVP and was joined by Walker on the All-Tournament team, as the Panthers opened a 2-0 season on the road.

Winn (San Diego, CA/Bishop's/Georgia Tech) scored 18 points, dished out five assists and recorded five rebounds in the game, while Walker (Philadelphia, PA/University City) added 13 points and grabbed six boards. C. Taylor (Detriot, MI/Martin Luther King) grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds and scored eight points in the contest.

Vermont opened the second half with a 14-4 run and cut Pitt's 16-point halftime lead in half by the 15:51 mark with a basket from Chrissy Battram.   

Gaining momentum, Walker stole the ball from the Cats after a missed three-pointer attempt by Winn. Walker passed the ball to Winn, who penetrated drawing a double team and dumped the ball off in the hands of Walker for an easy basket and a 40-30 lead with 14:48 left to play.

A jumper from Alexis Castro would bring the Cats within seven, 40-33, but that is as close as Vermont would get as the Panthers would rally a 12-0 run over the next three minutes of action.

At the 12:24 mark Pitt went up 11 points after freshman Shavonte Zellous (Orlando, FL/Jones) stole the ball from Vermont, allowing Winn to score a fast break basket. Zellous finished the game with nine points, five rebounds and three assists.

Freshman Maddy Brown (Honeoye Falls,NY/Honeoye Falls-Lima) gave Pitt a 19-point lead after being fouled while attempting a shot from the left corner. Brown stepped to the line and connected on all three free throws. She finished with 12 points.

Pitt continued to gained momentum and build its lead, as Zellous converted on a one-and-one opportunity then assisted the team on forcing Vermont to accept a shot clock violation on the other side of the court.

A turnaround baseline jumper by Danielle Taylor (Cleveland, OH/Villa Angela-St. Joseph) at the 1:19 mark gave the Panther's their largest lead of the night at 22, 69-47.

Walker scored the first five points of the game off a layup, a free throw and a 10-foot jumper. Following two pull-up jumpers by Winn, Pitt, then, took an 18-9 lead at the 11:35 mark.

Freshman Karlyle Lim (Chapel Hill, NC/East Chapel Hill) tallied a basket from behind the arc with just over seven minutes remaining in the first half give the Panthers a 21-12 advantage.

Winn recorded one of her three first-half assists with a pass to Walker, as she flashed in the lane. After a defensive stop, Winn hit a wide-open three from the top of the key to open up a 30-17 lead.

Pitt went ahead 34-18 into the locker room following a pair of free throws by D. Taylor and a layup by Brown.

The Panthers return to action on Tuesday, Nov. 22 against Akron at 7 p.m. at the Petersen Events Center.

Notes:

C. Taylor was a perfect 6-6 from the charity stripe and 1-1 from the floor...Pitt out rebounded Vermont, 41-30...Pitt's defense held Vermont under 38 percent shooting...Pitt starts the season 2-0 on the road for the second-consecutive season.