Aurora, N.Y. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford women's basketball team hit the road on Wednesday, traveling to New York to take on the Wells Express. Despite starting slow, the Panthers controlled the final 30 minutes of play to come away with a 79-27 victory.
The Panthers struggled to find their range, missing their first eight shots of the game. At the same time, they were able to lock down defensively to keep the Express off the scoreboard over the same span. After just over 3 minutes of scoreless action, the Panthers broke the ice as Alexa Ackerman found Paige Gratto on the break for an open layup. Pitt-Bradford went on to score the next 6 points of the tilt, as McKenna Kelly made a pair from the line, Yasmine Abu-Aiadeh made a jumper and Raquel Sewell added another. The hosts were finally able to score after nearly seven minutes, but after making their first, quickly scored 7 in a row to cut the lead down to one. Gratto was bale to break up the run in the final minute, making a putback layup to end the quarter with the Panthers ahead 10-7.
Pitt-Bradford took the momentum from the late basket into the second period, as they scored ten in a row to open the quarter. Abigail Goss started the 2nd with an early jump shot and then after a steal, McKenna Kelly converted an old-fashioned three-point play. The Panthers closed the run with a pair of fastbreak layups from Ackerman and Gratto and a free throw. Wells was able to break up the run with 6:49 remaining in the half but their basket was followed by a 20-3 run that only came to a close with a three by the Express with just four seconds to go. The Panthers spread the scoring out in the rally as 6 players scored, led by Goss, Gratto, and Amber Cross who all scored 4 points.
The Panther's dominance continued as the teams returned to action in the third. Abu-Aiadeh made a three on Pitt-Bradford's opening possession, beginning a 14-0 run after the restart. Gratto went on a personal 5-0 run, converting a three-point play and then hitting a jumper on the following possession. Ackerman added a pair of layups in the run. A free throw put the Express on the board in the quarter, but their free throw was followed by another 10-point scoring rally that included points from 5 different players. Wells made another three in the closing seconds to send the game to the 4th with Pitt-Bradford ahead 64-20.
Pitt-Bradford did not let up in the final quarter, extending their advantage by outscoring Wells 15-7. The Panthers once again got on the board to start the period, as Woolson and Ackerman made layups in the first 90 seconds of the 4th. Ahead 70-23, the Panthers hit a hot streak from beyond the ark, when Goss, Kelly, and Avery Benzel all made threes to close the scoring for Pitt-Bradford.
Paige Gratto led all scorers in the game with 16 points. McKenna Kelly recorded her first double-double of the season, scoring 14 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Abigail Goss also reached double figures, scoring 13 on 6-8 from the field. Alexa Ackerman nearly reached a quadruple-double, as she finished with 8 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, and 8 steals.
The win moves the Panthers to 7-10 on the season with a 4-7 mark in AMCC play. They will be back on the road this weekend, as they travel to Pittsburgh to take on La Roche.
