Women’s basketball: Panthers travel to Syracuse aiming for second Big East win

For the Pitt women’s basketball team, there could be such a thing as a moral victory in a… For the Pitt women’s basketball team, there could be such a thing as a moral victory in a loss.

When the Panthers travel to face Syracuse at 7 p.m. today, they will look to build upon the positive points of their most recent loss to No. 2 Connecticut.

Despite falling 66-46 to the Huskies, Pitt head coach Agnus Berenato believed that her team played competitively for the majority of the game.

“I thought the game was awesome for 35 minutes,” Berenato said after the loss. “We came into this game ready to compete and I was highly encouraged by our performance.”

She brushed over a 5-minute scoring drought in the second half, which led to a 13-point Connecticut lead.

A complete game will be necessary for the Panthers (9-9, 1-4 Big East) to earn their second Big East Conference win against a Syracuse team coming off a come-from-behind victory over Marquette.

The Orange gained their first lead over the Golden Eagles with less than six minutes remaining in the game this past Saturday, but Syracuse went on a 5-0 scoring run that sealed their 69-63 victory.

For Syracuse head coach Quentin Hillsman and stand-out sophomore center Kayla Alexander, the victory was one that highlighted their strengths and tenacity as a team.

“We were down at half-time, but we knew that we would be successful if we could get Kayla the proper touches,” Hillsman said after the game.

Alexander added to that sentiment, noting that the Orange (14-4. 2-3 Big East) were ready to come out and play hard in the second half.

“We were sick of losing,” Alexander said after the game. “Once we got the rebounds and the easy shots, we had a good chance of winning.”

That formula proved successful as Alexander finished the game with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Holding Alexander in check down low will be a key aspect to the game, as the two squads are two of the better rebounding teams in the league.

Although Alexander will present a challenge to the Panthers, Pitt senior forward Chelsea Cole has likewise been a force on the boards and her matchup against Alexander down low will be one to watch as a potential key to the game.

With her 10 points and 12 rebounds against Connecticut, Cole earned her ninth double-double performance of the season and her 12th game with double-digit rebounding figures.

Cole’s presence underneath the basket will be essential in hindering the Orange’s interior attack, which has been one of the team’s strongest areas on the court. Cole currently ranks second in the conference in defensive rebounds per game, averaging six.

Assisting Cole in these efforts will be fellow senior forward Shayla Scott, who ranks just behind Cole at No. 3 in the conference in defensive rebounds per game, with 5.7 rebounds.

Syracuse leads the Big East in offensive rebounds and trails only Connecticut in the defensive rebounding category.

As far as offensive production, the Panthers will rely heavily on their starting lineup, as the five starters accounted for all but one of Pitt’s 46 points against Connecticut.

Senior guard Taneisha Harrison has been a leading offensive figure for the Panthers, tallying double-digit scoring figures in the last 10 games, including her team-leading 16 against the Huskies.

This year’s Panther team is unique in that it is composed of only seniors and freshmen. Although the more experienced players have led the way in rebounds and scoring, production from the team’s younger players will be an added asset to Pitt’s game as they prepare to face Syracuse.

Freshman Ashlee Anderson has earned playing time every game this season, started against the Huskies and has already observed the competitive nature of the Big East.

“Everyone playing in the Big East is good,” Anderson said. “We freshmen need to develop the type of presence we want to have in the future.”

It will take seniors and freshmen alike to combat the high emotions that the Orange will bring to the game, especially in front of the Syracuse home crowd.