Pitt Women's Basketball Update - Monday, Nov. 11, 2019

   The Pitt men's team wasn't the only Pitt basketball team to open their season last week, as the Pitt women's basketball team also opened up their season last Wednesday, Nov. 6, on the road against the UCF Knights. Much like the men's team, which started with a tough ACC opponent, the women faced off against against a stout UCF team that won 26 games and reached the NCAA tournament last season.

   Pitt lost 74-58 to the Knights in a back-and-forth game that saw Pitt jump out to an early 13-point edge, as they led UCF 18-5 with just four minutes remaining in the first quarter. UCF took the lead in the third quarter, opening up an eight point lead before Pitt battled back to cut the deficit to just one, as they trailed 47-46 with two minutes remaining in the third.

   From there, the Panthers turned the ball over on their final three possessions of the quarter and did not register a shot, allowing the Knights to jump back out to an eight point lead to start the fourth quarter.

   The fourth quarter saw Pitt play a much cleaner brand of basketball, as they turned the ball over just once while UCF committed seven turnovers. That was ultimately not enough for Pitt to get the win though, as they fell on the road in Orlando, Fla.

New Look Roster

   However, this is not your Panthers team of yesteryear, as Pitt enters this season with a new-look roster that returns just five players and introduces seven new Panthers, including five true freshmen and a couple of transfers.

   The Panthers group of true freshmen this year include some highly-touted commits from the class of 2019. White secured commitments from Amber Brown (no. 17 ranked wing), Rita Igbokwe (no. 19 ranked post player), Emy Hayford (no. 28 ranked guard), Dayshannette Harris (no. 71 ranked point guard), and forward Cynthia Ezeja from Greece.

   The transfers include center Marcella Lamark dos Santos from Texas Tech, who will be eligible to play after the first semester of this season; and JUCO commit Gabbie Green out of South Plains College. Expect Lamark dos Santos to contribute during conference play, as she adds some much-needed depth to the Panthers' interior.

   After just one game, it is clear that the new additions to Pitt's roster will make a significant impact on the team this year. Four of the true freshmen--Brown, Harris, Igbokwe, and Hayford--played at least 10 minutes against UCF, with Brown and Harris drawing starts for White's team. Green also got the nod to start against the Knights and scored 18 points in 25 minutes of action.

   The only returning players to start against UCF were sixth-year guard Aysia Bugg, who played a whopping 39 minutes on Wednesday, and junior center Cara Judkins, who led the team with seven rebounds in 30 minutes of action. Pitt also saw contributions from sophomores Jahsyni Knight and Ismini Prapa, who played 13 and 14 minutes, respectively.

    The Panthers will add more talent and depth to their rotation when junior Kyla Nelson returns, in addition to Lamark dos Santos becoming eligible next semester. Nelson, who is working her way back to the court following surgery to remove a tumor on her appendix, shot over 40 percent from three-point land last season. We at the Pitt Basketball Lead are wishing her a speedy recovery.

High Expectations

   Even after Wednesday's loss, it's hard not to feel optimistic about the future of this Pitt team as they enter their second season under head coach Lance White. And this year's Pitt team comes into the season with high expectations for themselves, as White told the Trib that the Panthers want to be better than they were last season while battling in ACC games.

   Regardless of how the wins and losses shake out this season, nobody can argue with the energy that White is bringing to the team. There's a palpable buzz around the Panthers that was missing for several years, and it finally feels like they are just one or two seasons away from turning the corner.

   White's stellar ability to recruit could help Pitt return to the NCAA tournament sooner rather than later. After putting together a strong 2019 class, White is already putting together an even better 2020 class, one that features ESPN 100 forward Tracey Huesten out of Virginia, and no. 10 ranked wing Liatu King out of Maryland.

   During a two-year span which has seen significant advances for Pitt's volleyball team, the men's and women's soccer teams, and wrestling,  the Pitt women's basketball team is not far behind. Expect the young team to learn and grow this season, before putting themselves in a position to take it to the next level in the next couple of seasons.

   Pitt faces off against Central Connecticut State University at 7 p.m. tonight, marking their first game of the season at home in the Petersen Events Center. The game will be broadcast on ACCNX, for those fans who can't make it to the game.