Bradford, Pa. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford women's basketball team opened their AMCC schedule in the best way possible on Wednesday night, easily dispatching Wells 97-15.
The Panthers took control of the game immediately, locking down on the defensive end, while also efficiently scoring. They held the Express scoreless in the period while scoring 33 points of their own. Yasmine Abu-Aiadeh played 6 minutes off the bench in the quarter and scored a team-high 8 points. The Panthers turned Wells over 18 times and also grabbed 10 offensive rebounds.
The Panthers' success continued as the game moved into the 2nd quarter as they pushed their lead to 42 points before Wells was able to get on the board with 6:27 left in the half. The Express were able to make a few more shots in the quarter, scoring 12 in the period, but the Panthers were able to add to their lead in the frame, scoring 22 of their own. Katie Woolson made all three shots she attempted to lead the Panthers with 6 points.
Pitt-Bradford slowed down the pace after the break, but still stifled Wells defensively, holding them to just three points in the half. The Panthers continued to add to their lead in the third, posting 24 points. Paige Gratto had 6 points and 5 rebounds, while Alexa Ackerman registered 3 assists and 4 steals in a scoreless quarter.
Raquel Sewell took over for the Panthers in the 4th, scoring 12 points and grabbing 9 rebounds. She scored two-thirds of the Panthers' points, as Woolson and Abu-Aiadeh added three-pointers. They once again limited the Express on the defensive end, allowing just one field goal for 2 points in the quarter.
Six Panthers finished the game in double-figures, with the top three scorers coming off the bench. Pitt-Bradford's 97 points was the most in a game for the program since a 99-70 win over Hilbert in January of 2017. Yasmine Abu-Aiadeh led the team with 18 points, while also registering 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals. Raquel Sewell and Katie Woolson both recorded their first career double-doubles for the Panthers. Sewell finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Woolson scored 14 and grabbed 11 boards. Paige Gratto finished with 12 points and 9 rebounds, while Avery Benzel and McKenna Kelly both scored 10. Alexa Ackerman had 6 points with 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 7 steals.
The Panthers move to 4-1 on the season with a 1-0 record in AMCC play with the win. They will head on the road for their next matchup, as they travel to Cresson to take on Mount Aloysius on Saturday. Tipoff is set for 2:00 p.m.
