Bronx, N.Y. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford women's basketball was back in action in New York City on Friday, as they took on Salem State in the consolation game of Lehman's Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament. The Panthers got off to a slow start and ultimately lost the game 76-60. Abby Goss scored 16 points and earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team.
Goss put the Panthers on the board after a minute and 20 seconds of action, as she made a putback layup to tie the score at two. Salem State went on to build a 13-6 lead over the first 5 minutes before Goss made a layup and Yasmine Abu-Aiadeh scored four quick points, cutting the lead to three. The Vikings responded and closed the quarter on a 10-6 run. Abu-Aiadeh added a pair of late free throws and Alexa Ackerman scored four points to send the game to the second with the Panthers trailing 23-16.
Amber Cross started the second quarter with a mid-range jump shot, but her effort was followed by ten quick, unanswered points from Salem State. McKenna Kelly ended the scoring run from the free throw line with 7:30 remaining in the half and then converted a layup on the next possession. Abu-Aiadeh and Goss made baskets inside over the next few possessions, but the Panthers went the final 5:02 of the half without a field goal as built a 15-point halftime lead.
Pitt-Bradford struggled after the restart, as the Vikings scored eight points over the first two minutes of the third, while Pitt-Bradford could only muster a free throw. Following a timeout, the Panthers were able to go on a 17-4 run of their own, cutting the lead back down to 13 points. Kelly, Paige Gratto, and Abu-Aiadeh all made early layups to start the rally, and then after it was slowed by a Viking basket, Abu-Aiadeh made the Panthers only three of the game. A Kelly layup was answered by two free throws, but Pitt-Bradford scored six unanswered points to close the quarter, leaving the Panthers with a 9-point deficit heading into the final quarter.
In the fourth, Salem State scored on the first possession, but the Panthers answered with two straight baskets, further cutting the lead down to 7. Unfortunately, that was as close as Pitt-Bradford would come to erasing the lead, as a quick 6-0 run around the 5-minute mark saw the Vikings extend their advantage back to double-digits. Gross and Gratto made a pair of late layups, but it would not be enough as the Vikings ultimately won 76-60.
Abigail Goss led the Panthers with 16 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 blocked shots. Freshmen Paige Gratto and Yasmine Abu-Aiadeh each reached double-figures, both finishing with 11 points. Amber Cross grabbed 9 rebounds off the bench.
Goss was selected for the All-Tournament team after the game, as she averaged 13 points and 7.5 rebounds per game over the two day event.
The loss drops the Panthers to 4-6 on the season. They have completed their non-conference schedule and will play the final 14 games of the season against AMCC opponents. They will start the new year with a matchup against Penn State-Behrend on Wednesday, January 3rd. Tipoff is slated for 5:00 p.m. in KOA Arena.
