ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands – The Pitt women’s basketball team fell to Northern Iowa, 90-74, to close the 2024 Paradise Jam Saturday evening on the campus of the University of the Virgin Islands.
Despite the result, Pitt (5-4, 0-0 ACC) shot a stellar 65 percent (13-of-20) from three-point range and recorded 17 assists on 29 made baskets.
Individually, the Panthers were paced by senior guard Bella Perkins as she tallied a career-high 26 points on 10-of-15 shooting, while going perfect (6-for-6) from beyond the arc.
Freshman guard Audrey Biggs logged a career high in scoring for the second-consecutive game, notching 10 points to go along with five rebounds. Of note, Biggs registered a career-high four assists, while committing zero turnovers.
Senior forward MaKayla Elmore also had a solid performance down low, tallying 11 points and eight rebounds, helping the Panthers finish the contest with a slight edge in rebounding (29-28) – despite missing several key post players.
How It Happened
Pitt jumped out to a 7-2 lead behind baskets from Biggs and Raeven Boswell. Northern Iowa responded with a 6-2 burst to pull within one at 9-8. Biggs then drained her second triple of the contest, giving Pitt a 12-8 lead at the 6:40 mark. The two teams traded baskets for the remainder of the period, as Pitt held a 26-21 lead at the end of the frame.
Northern Iowa opened the second quarter on an 8-0 run to take the lead, but Pitt immediately responded with five unanswered. Northern Iowa outscored Pitt by a 25-10 ledger for the remainder of the period and took a 54-41 lead into the halftime break. Offensively, Pitt shot 78 percent from three-point range in the first half.
Both sides came out strong offensively in the third quarter, as Northern Iowa maintained its 13-point lead over the first five minutes of play. Northern Iowa eventually settled in and began to pull away, going on a 10-2 spurt – increasing its lead to 21. Perkins capped off her stellar third period with a triple just before the buzzer, as she finished the frame with seven points on 3-of-4 shooting.
After a Northern Iowa triple increased its lead to 17 with just over five minutes left, Pitt went on a 7-0 run to pull within 10 at the 3:58 mark. Northern Iowa outscored Pitt, 9-3, to close the contest and sealed the 90-74 victory.
Notes
- Pitt shot a season-best 65 percent (10-of-15) from beyond the arc.
- As a unit, Pitt recorded 17 assists on 29 made baskets.
- Perkins notched a career-high 26 points, shooting 6-for-6 from three-point range.
- In her first-career start, Biggs logged a career-high in points (10), rebounds (5) and assists (4).
- Raeven Boswell made her first-career start and finished the contest with four points, while going perfect (2-of-2) from the field.
Season Tickets
Season tickets for the 2024-25 Pitt women’s basketball season are on sale now through the Panthers Ticket Office. Season tickets can be purchased for $75 each. The Panthers’ schedule promises another exciting campaign in the ACC, which boasts multiple nationally ranked foes.
Secure your new 2024-25 season tickets HERE. Season ticket holders from last season who want to renew their season tickets can log onto their account online and renew HERE. All seating in the Petersen Events Center will be General Admission, excluding VIP Courtside.
Up Next
Pitt returns home to face crosstown foe Duquesne at the Petersen Events Center on Wednesday, Dec. 4. Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m., and the game can be streamed via ACCNX.
