Women’s Basketball: Kiesel, Davis shine in Pitt’s win over Central Michigan

The Pitt women’s basketball team rode career days from Brianna Kiesel and Marquel Davis to a… The Pitt women’s basketball team rode career days from Brianna Kiesel and Marquel Davis to a win over Central Michigan on Sunday afternoon.

With the 77-70 victory, the Panthers (3-1) have now won three consecutive games.

Sophomore guard Davis, who finished with a then career-high 17 points in Friday’s game against Loyola, scored 26 against Central Michigan. Kiesel, a freshman guard, bested her previous career-high of 17 points from two games ago by putting up 24.

Both players said they didn’t notice that they were working on career-highs during the game because they were focused on the task at hand.

Kiesel said that for her, staying focused meant continuously being aggressive and driving to the basket. The drives helped her set a Petersen Events Center record for free throws attempted with 17 and free throws made with 15.

Despite her recent strong performances, Kiesel said she still hasn’t quite gotten used to the fact that she’s a college player.

“Every game I’m still nervous,” she said. “I still have those jitters.”

Davis said she was intent on making sure the team didn’t panic when Central Michigan went on a run.

“I was really focused on … how we were going to fight back on whatever they did,” Davis said.

Head coach Agnus Berenato said both players got it done when it mattered.

“Whenever we needed something clutch, these two ladies came through,” she said.

After getting out to an early 10-2 lead against the Chippewas (0-3), Pitt allowed Central Michigan to fight its way back into the game with an 8-0 run to make the score 14-12.

The Panthers led 32-28 at the half.

Pitt began the second half by scoring eight unanswered points for its largest lead of the game, 40-28.

When Central Michigan reduced the Pitt lead to 64-60 with less than five minutes remaining, Davis responded. She drove the length of the floor to convert a layup and hit a free throw after getting fouled on the play.

Sophomore center Leeza Burdgess had her way inside with the much smaller Central Michigan frontcourt, compiling 13 points and eight rebounds.

Berenato said Burdgess played a key role in the victory.

“[She] came in and really gave us a spark that was amazing,” Berenato said. “She’s becoming a powerhouse and a strength off the bench.”

Burdgess’s back-to-back layups with three minutes left made the score 72-63 and put the game out of reach for the Chippewas with 2:30 remaining.

“Each team was playing each possession like we were fighting for our lives,” Berenato said.

Berenato said she thought the Panthers won the game at the free throw line. The team’s goal was to shoot 80 percent from the line, she said, and Pitt achieved that goal. The Panthers hit 20 of 24 foul shots (83.3 percent).

Pitt never trailed in the game, but the Chippewas kept it close. Central Michigan went on a 15-8 run in the last nine minutes to make the score 68-63 before Pitt pulled away.

“Whatever they did, we came back 10 times harder,” Kiesel said.

Central Michigan was led by Crystal Bradford’s double-double of 18 points and 12 rebounds and Jas’Mine Bracey’s 18 points and eight rebounds.

The Chippewas finished with 26 turnovers, whereas Pitt turned the ball over 25 times.

Davis said the key to withstanding Central Michigan’s various runs was Pitt keeping its composure.

“I think that’s what we did best,” Davis said. “The main thing was to not panic and just stay focused.”