Women’s Basketball: Panthers cruise to win in exhibition

After ending last season on an embarrassing 16-game losing streak, the Pitt women’s basketball team finally remembered what it felt like to win a game Saturday afternoon.

In their first and only exhibition game of the season, the Panthers displayed a faster tempo and a more organized offense compared to last season’s performance, beating Division II Lock Haven 94-61 at the Petersen Events Center.

Coming off a season in which they were the youngest team in Division I, the Panthers still have no seniors on the roster. But there were no signs of problem with the team’s youth, as the Panthers scored 90 points in regulation for the first time since 2010 when they beat Central Michigan 94-78.

Now in her 10th season as Pitt head coach, Agnus Berenato needs only seven wins to surpass former Coach Kirk Bruce and become the all-time winningest coach in the program’s history. Though that milestone will be one she relishes, Coach Berenato is focused on getting this squad ready for its next game — the home opener — Friday, Nov. 9, against Youngstown State at 11 a.m.

After the game against Lock Haven, Berenato was pleased with her team’s performance.

“We really pushed the ball in transition, and a lot of that was because of defense and rebounding. I don’t even know the last time we had 90 points,” she said. “We really want to have an up-tempo game. We have really come a long way.”

Redshirt freshman guard Loliya Briggs made her first appearance in a Pitt uniform after suffering a season-ending injury before the start of the 2011-2012 campaign. She chipped in with eight points, two rebounds and two assists in 25 minutes of play.

“Loliya gives us some spunk,” Berenato said. “Even though she did not have a great shooting night, she was definitely the most aggressive player out there for us in terms of getting to the basket. Whenever you have someone that aggressive to the basket, that is great.”

Sophomore center Chyna Golden was a force in the paint all game for the Panthers. She scored Pitt’s first eight points and finished the game with a total of 18, including a perfect 6-for-6 at the free-throw line.

“Good things will happen when we get to the low post,” Golden said. “It will create more opportunities for our guards, Abby and Brianna, and those are our shooters. We want the ball in their hands for open shots. We want more shots, and that will happen through the post.”

Brianna Kiesel, a sophomore point guard, showed why she is expected to be the floor general for the Panthers this season. Looking to follow up a fantastic freshman season, Kiesel helped Pitt dictate the game, carrying the ball up the floor for the majority of the team’s possessions.

Keisel’s 23 points paced the Panthers, along with her seven rebounds, six steals and five assists.

“Our guards need to rebound,” Kiesel said. “We have really been working on transition, filling the lanes and such. The coaches have been really pushing the guards hitting the boards, and I was able to pick up a lot of backside rebounds today.”

With a successful exhibition behind them, the Panthers are ready to embark on what they hope will be a much-improved campaign after their failure to win a conference game last season.

And Coach Berenato believes that with last year’s struggles behind them, the Panthers have the ability and the players to win more games this season.

“We are still really young, but I think our progression today definitely has to do with being a year older,” Berenato said. “Our coach-on-the-court [Kiesel] made better decisions. Chyna’s defense spurred her offense. We are very excited.”