Women’s basketball: Thomas ‘showed no fear’ in Pitt’s win over Louisville

On a day when the Petersen Events Center turned pink, Brittaney Thomas was red hot.

The… On a day when the Petersen Events Center turned pink, Brittaney Thomas was red hot.

The junior finished with a career- and game-high 22 points as the Pitt women’s basketball team defeated Louisville 72-69 on Sunday evening at the annual “Pink the Pete” breast cancer research fundraiser.

Most importantly, however, was Thomas’ ability to step up when the team needed her the most.

For the Panthers (13-11, 2-9 Big East), a team that struggled with closing out games throughout the Big East season, Thomas’ emergence proved essential as the Panthers grabbed their first home conference victory this season.

“She really showed no fear, and she showed a lot of character on the offensive end,” Pitt head coach Agnus Berenato said of Thomas. “She attacked. She was what we call ‘in the flow of the game,’ and I think she wanted the ball. She wanted to take the shots.”

No player was more vital for the Panthers than Thomas, particularly in the second half. Every time the Cardinals grabbed momentum, Thomas pushed Pitt forward with a crucial shot.

When Louisville pulled within one point with just over eight minutes remaining in the game, Thomas scored on a layup, was fouled and hit the ensuing free throw to boost the score to 58-54 in favor of the Panthers.

Later, Thomas hit a jump shot to give the Panthers a four-point advantage with 1:22 remaining in the game.

For what seems like the first time in conference play, the Panthers had a player who looked confident taking big shots down the stretch.

“I’ve been talking to Coach and thinking about a game like this,” Thomas said. “I felt like when I got hot, I was really in the flow of the game. My teammates and coaches kept telling me to shoot. I just turned it on from there.”

Berenato said it was good to have a role player leading them to the victory, since so often this season opposing teams’ role players and not the stars have been the players to beat the Panthers.

“It was really good for us that someone else stepped up and said ‘I want to help the team,’” Berenato said. “That’s what wins games. Tonight, Brittaney was that player.”

Thomas wasn’t the only player that stepped up for the Panthers, as three players reached double figures. Jania Sims and Taneisha Harrison scored 16 and 11 points, respectively, something Berenato also recognized.

“It’s important to have others scoring because we don’t have that one player that can do it on her own,” Berenato said. “We don’t have Shavonte Zellous to put up a ton of points. Therefore, we have to balance out the scoring and the assists.”

Harrison hit a crucial three-pointer after Louisville grabbed a 42-41 lead early in the second half. Chelsea Cole contributed by grabbing key rebounds down the stretch.

Since the Georgetown loss on Feb. 10, the team has focused on finishing, Berenato said, and the coaches started making play calls at the end of games in order to take pressure off the players.

“Just run the play,” Berenato said. “If you score, great. If you don’t, it’s OK. Win or lose, we [the coaches] take the responsibility. I feel like it took a lot of pressure off everybody.”

Due to crucial rebounds and free throws, as well as Thomas’ huge shots, Berenato said the Panthers felt they were going to win at the end of the game.

“I think that was the difference maker,” Berenato said.

There was definitely a difference between the Pitt team that closed out Louisville and the Panthers that continually faltered down the stretch this season.

Most recently, the Panthers committed costly turnovers late in the game against Georgetown, and on its final possession, Pitt’s play broke down and Sims was forced to take an off-balance three in an attempt to tie the game.

But against the Cardinals, Thomas made sure that her team walked away with the victory, even if Berenato had to give her a little nudge to get there.

“I don’t think I’ve ever gotten mad at her for not taking a shot before, because Brittaney just shoots,” Berenato said. “Today, I got mad at her, because we were calling her number, and she didn’t take the shot. I told her that we needed her. She really stepped up for us today.”