Pitt Dominates in 92-41 Win Over LIU

The Pitt Women’s Basketball Team improved to 3-0 on the season with a 92-41 victory Wednesday night against LIU at the Petersen Events Center.

“I’m really excited about the win and there are moments where we are a good basketball team and it’s really fun to see a lot of the contributions from different players,” Pitt coach Lance White said. “The biggest challenge for us is the mental challenge and consistency you have to play with. You look at the 23 turnovers and there’s still some anxiousness. We have to clean some of those things up, but overall I was pleased with the game.”

In her first career start, Destiny Strother led Pitt with a career high 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the field. Strother replaced Taisha Exanor in the lineup, though the latter also offered a career best, with her 10 rebounds.

Sandrine Clesca also scored a career high with her 13 points, all of which were scored in the fourth quarter.

Pitt leading scorer Jayla Everett scored 12 points, but also given the nature of the game, played 15 minutes.

The 92 points Pitt scored Wednesday were the most in coach Lance White’s four seasons with the team. This was also the third consecutive game in which each Pitt player grabbed at least one rebound.

Courtesy Pitt women’s basketball

LIU (0-2) leading scorer Erykah Russell scored 13 points to lead the Sharks, but was 6-for-21 from the field. Brandy Thomas added 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting.

Early on, Pitt established play going on a 12-0 run.

Everett get every bounce around the rim before her three-point shot attempt fell in Pitt’s first offensive possession of the game.

Second on the night from beyond the arc for Strother!

Watch: https://t.co/aYMUlqbfil (ACCNX)#LEVELUP // #H2P pic.twitter.com/kKIEde9fSH

— Pitt Basketball (@Pitt_WBB) November 17, 2021

Strother quickly converted a three-point basket and then after missing a trifecta, followed an Emy Hayford miss, grabbing a rebound and then making the put back, a sequence which White would later remark surprised him since he believes it was the first time she tipped a ball in.

“It feels good, being able to provide something else, and not only being a shooter,” Strother said. “I know that I can do other things. It brings me more confidence than I already had. I just have to continue to keep my confidence up and continue to work.”

By the time, LIU scored, on a hurried Shyla Sanford three-point shot attempt to beat the shot clock, four-and-a-half minutes of game action had already elapsed.

Pitt was unfazed by this development as eight players scored in the first quarter and the Panthers led LIU 28-7.

Pitt continued to have success against LIU in the second quarter as Dayshanette Harris saw her first action on the court this season.

She's on the board! First points of the season for number 1️⃣

💻: https://t.co/aYMUlqbfil (ACCNX)#LEVELUP // #H2P pic.twitter.com/DM3G2aOkzy

— Pitt Basketball (@Pitt_WBB) November 17, 2021

In transition, Harris converted an open layup after Liatu King misfired in transition. Harris would then capitalize on another LIU turnover, making a jumper.

On Pitt’s next defensive possession, Everett skied for a steal and required one hand to come down with the ball. Hayford was the beneficiary of the theft, making a jump shot of her own.

Pitt was able to score 21 points on 12 LIU turnovers in the first half, while the Sharks were unable to score off 10 miscues.

LIU was held to a 26.7% shooting clip in the first half as Pitt had a 27-9 rebounding edge after 20 minutes.

Pitt led 55-20 at halftime and also recorded 15 assists on 21 made field goals.

The third quarter saw LIU achieve its highest point total of the game but Everett was able to bank in a three-point shot despite being fouled. Everett did miss the free throw, but made up for it by beating the buzzer on a midrange jumper making the score 71-32 after 30 minutes.

Clesca came alive in the fourth quarter as it achieved its third quarter of 20-plus points, while holding LIU to nine points.

Pitt next will travel a few miles down the road to the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse to play Duquesne in the City Game after the series took a one-year hiatus. The tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m and will be carried on ESPN+.

POSTGAME VIDEO