The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford women's basketball team fell in its season opening game at Fredonia State by a score of 77-60.
Shaelyn Snipes got the Panthers season started, putting in a layup following a Jenna Hicks offensive rebound on the Panthers first possession of the game. Lyric Collins gave Pitt-Bradford an early lead with a lay up of her own. Snipes made another basket with 7:33 on the clock, however the Panthers would go on a long scoring drought that allowed the Blue Devils to build a lead of their own. The Panthers defense was able to keep Fredonia in check, and Taylor Sutryk hit a three to end the 5-minute drought and put the Panthers behind by one. Fredonia responded to the three by finishing the quarter with a 5-2 advantage to take a 15-11 lead into the second.
Fredonia scored the first two baskets of the second quarter to push the lead to 8 points, before Sutryk hit another three to keep the Panthers within single digits. The deficit did not last long as Fredonia scored a quick bucket to respond to the three, and then went on an 11-0 run to push their lead to 16 midway through the second. Daizjah Brown made a three point play and added a jumper in the final minute of the half to send the Panthers to the break trailing by 12.
After the halftime break, the Panthers slowly chipped away at the lead. Shaelyn Snipes scored 8 points in the quarter, as she made 2 of 3 shots, including 1-2 from three and 3 of 4 from the line. Pitt-Bradford was able to cut the lead to 7 on a Raven Allen three with 1:38 to go, but the Blue Devils scored 5 straight to finish the quarter and restore their 13 point lead.
Fredonia continued building momentum at the beginning of the fourth quarter, outscoring the Panthers 11-3 to expand their lead to over 20 points. Pitt-Bradford was able to whittle the lead to 13 points thanks to 6 points from Sutryk and baskets from Cassidy King, Jenna Hicks and Daizjah Brown, but that is as close as they would come. Fredonia State was able to hold the Panthers to 1 point over the final 3:23 to close the game.
Shaelyn Snipes led the Panthers with 20 points on 6-11 shooting, including 3-4 from beyond the arc. She also grabbed 7 rebounds. Sutryk also finished in double figures with 13.
The Panthers (0-1) will return to action on Friday, as they will play Gwynedd Mercy in the first game of the Gwynedd Mercy Tip-Off Tournament. The game will begin at 6:00 p.m.