The Pitt Panthers women’s basketball season saw its storybook season come to an end against second seeded Tennessee on Monday with a 77-67 loss.
The contest was played at Tennessee’s home court, the Thompson-Boling Arena, a venue that the Lady Vols have now won 22 consecutive games. Tennessee also now improves to 56-0 at home in the NCAA Tournament.
Senior guard Brianna Kiesel led Pitt with a career high 32 points and five rebounds. Kiesel played all 40 minutes of her final collegiate basketball game. Freshman forward Yacine Diop had 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field and nine rebounds. Freshman forward Stasha Carey who scored 16 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in a first round victory against Chattanooga was held scoreless.
“I couldn’t be more proud of this team,” coach Suzie McConnell-Serio said. “For Brianna Kiesel to score a career-high 32 points against one of the best teams in the country, on their home court, was incredible. Obviously the loss hurts, but this team has done everything this coaching staff has asked the entire year and I am so proud of what they have accomplished.”
The Panthers nearly put themselves in a hole before the start of the game as they were issued a technical foul for not turning its line-up in on time. Tennessee missed both free throws however to keep the score tied at 0.
Although the Volunteers missed the two free throws to start the game, it led to them leading 12-4 heading into the first media timeout.
Tennessee made 9 of its first 11 shots and never trailed in the first half.
Pitt, however, recovered from its slow start, cutting the lead to eight, while forcing the Lady Vols to shoot 3-for-15 from the floor. The Panthers, however, were unable to score in the final five minutes of the half and trailed 35-23 after 20 minutes of play.
In the second half, Pitt opened on a 9-0 scoring run, cutting the lead to three with 17:34 remaining in the second half. Tennessee, however, was unfazed and went on a 12-3 run to stretch the lead back to the same 12 point advantage that was the Panthers’ deficit at halftime.
The Panthers would get the deficit back into single digits but Ariel Massengale made a couple of key three point baskets in an effort increase separation between the teams.
Tennessee led by as many as 14 points in this contest, however Diop scored four points and Kiesel’s defense allowed the Panthers to cut the lead to 66-60 with 1:37 to play.
The Lady Vols ran the clock and Massengale missed a jumper but off her miss, Bashaara Graves got a quick rebound and scored. Pitt was out-rebounded 46-29 on the game.
After officials ruled a 50-50 ball in favor of Tennessee, Graves split free throws and at the other end, Kiesel made a two and was fouled, finishing off the three point play at the line. Kiesel was 9-13 from the free throw line.
Down 71-65, Diop made a lay-up, but the deficit was too much to overcome as Tennessee made free throws down the stretch to secure the victory.
The loss ends the collegiate careers of Kiesel, Cora McManus and Monica Wignot. Heading into NCAA Tournament play, the three accounted for 48.3 percent of the team’s scoring and 36.4 percent of the team’s rebounding.
Photo courtesy: KDKA
