HOUGHTON, N.Y. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford women's basketball team opened its 2018-19 season Friday with a road non-conference contest at Houghton.
The Highlanders defeated the Panthers, 70-53, in the season opener.
Etreece Adams led the team with 12 points and Jennifer Isenberg dropped 11 points. Adams also pulled in seven boards.
The Highlanders got off to a hot start, opening with a 14-4 lead in the first period.
Pitt-Bradford went on a run of its own and tightened the deficit to 16-14, but it would be unable to take the lead and Houghton took a 20-14 lead into the second period.
The second period belonged to Houghton as the Highlanders went up 15 points late, but a pair of Shirleah Ragin free throws in the closing seconds sent Houghton into the break with a 39-26 lead.
Houghton continued to build its lead in the third, opening up a 22-point lead at one point.
But the Panthers fought back, winning the fourth period.
Back-to-back three-pointers from Shaelyn Snipes and Isenberg highlighted a 10-0 run that brought the deficit to single digits, 56-47, with 6:31 left.
But, despite the Panthers winning the quarter, 18-16, Houghton would hold off the Panthers and go onto take the 70-53 victory.
As a team, the Panthers shot 37.5 percent from the floor.
Houghton outrebounded the Panthers, 49-25.
Up next, Pitt-Bradford will host Chatham for its home opener Saturday at the KOA Arena at 3 p.m.
