Panthers win final exhibition

The No. 23 Pitt women’s basketball team used a 15-1 run at the end of the first half to defeat… The No. 23 Pitt women’s basketball team used a 15-1 run at the end of the first half to defeat the Premier Players, 76-65, at the Petersen Events Center on Tuesday night. Premier Players guard Sherell Sowho scored the first basket of the game, but it was the Panthers’ Xenia Stewart who lit it up early. Stewart scored the first seven Pitt points with a 3-pointer and two consecutive layups off steals. With Shawnice ‘Pepper’ Wilson dominating inside, Pitt jumped out to an early 19-5 lead. The Premier Players used scoring from four different players, including two Katie Alsdurf layups, to tie the game at 21-21 with 4:51 left in the first half. The Panthers took over from there. Successive Shayla Scott 3-pointers and a Wilson three-point-play highlighted Pitt’s scoring run to close out the first half. Pitt coach Agnus Berenato felt the team settled down too much after jumping out to an early lead, but was pleased with the momentum the run gave the Panthers heading into halftime. Pitt entered the locker room leading, 36-22. ‘We went back to our veteran players, and our veteran players really turned it on,’ said Berenato, ‘They were able to power it up for us. I thought we had really good performances.’ Pitt led by as many as 25 points in the second half, but the Premier Players cut the lead to eight points with 1:47 left in the game. Two foul shots by Shavonte Zellous boosted the difference back to double digits and sealed the victory for the Panthers. ‘I thought it was a game of runs,’ said Berenato. ‘We have to learn to make stops when the other team goes on runs.’ Stewart showed her flexibility on the floor while playing every position but center for Pitt. She finished with 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting. Berenato felt the overall versatility of her team can be used to its advantage. ‘ ‘I think that’s something that can help our point guards,’ said Berenato. ‘A defense can’t get comfortable with us, because we can always change it up.’ Zellous returned to the court after being out of practice for a week and a half. She ended the first half with three points, but came out strong in the second half to finish with a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. ‘I think you definitely could tell that she needs to get back in the rhythm of the game,’ said Berenato. ‘Her shots were in and out, but she has to keep taking them. She took great shots.’ Wilson was one rebound away from adding a double-double of her own. The freshman led the team in scoring with 17 points and nine rebounds. ‘I thought she showed how much she’s learning in practice,’ said Berenato. ‘It’s a shame that she missed a double-double by one rebound, but there’s plenty more to come.’ The Panthers dominated inside, outscoring the Premier Players in the paint, 36-22, and outrebounding them, 53-33. Berenato said her players need to learn not to settle for the jump shot when they are scoring inside consistently. Sowho was the leading scorer for the Premier Players with 16 points. Alsdurf finished with 15 points and seven rebounds. Forward Courtney McDaniel was one rebound away from a double-double, finishing with 10 points and nine rebounds. Rashida Suber came off the bench to score in double figures with 13 points. The Panthers will start the regular season on Sunday when they take on No. 10 Texas A’amp;M in the State Farm Tip-Off Classic in Baton Rouge, La.