University of Louisville
PITTSBURGH
Women's Basketball Hands Pittsburgh a 79-68 Defeat
January 09, 2011 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 9, 2011
Box Score | Quotes | Notes | Photo Gallery 
Coach Walz's press conference
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Louisville women's basketball team defeated Pittsburgh 79-68 on Sunday afternoon in the KFC Yum! Center. The Cardinals improve to 12-5 overall and 3-0 in BIG EAST play.
Junior Monique Reid led all scorers with a season-high 29 points, going 11-of-13 from the free throw line. Freshman Shoni Schimmel contributed 15 points and seven assists, while senior Keshia Hines added 10 points and seven rebounds.
Pittsburgh falls to 8-7 overall and 0-2 in conference play. The Panthers were led in scoring by Taneisha Harrison with 18 points. Shayla Scott added a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Jania Sims contributed 13 points and seven assists.
The Cardinals started out the game aggressive on defense, pressuring the Panthers early. Louisville jumped out to an early 7-2 lead with Reid capping off the run with a three-point play.
Pittsburgh got their first lead of the game at the 16:41 mark after two straight 3-pointers from Scott making the score 8-7. The Cardinals were able to outscore the Panthers 13-2 over a five-minute span to take a 20-10 lead, the largest lead of the half.
Pittsburgh answered by holding the Cardinals scoreless for five minutes with a 10-0 run to even the score at 20-20. Antonita Slaughter broke the drought with a layup at the 6:57 mark. The basket by Slaughter sparked an 8-0 run that saw Tia Gibbs get back-to-back steals and layups to extend the lead to 28-20.
Both teams traded baskets while the Cardinals held a 32-26 lead at the break. Louisville finished the half shooting 43.3 percent from the floor and 22.2 percent from beyond the arc. Pittsburgh finished the half shooting 33.3 percent from the floor and 18.2 percent from beyond the arc.
The Cardinals started out the second half with a quick basket from Schimmel at the 19:39 mark, but the Panthers answered with three free throws to cut the lead to 34-29. After another basket from Schimmel, Pittsburgh was able to pour in seven unanswered points over a two-minute span to tie up the score at 36-36 with 16:34 left in the half.
Louisville was able to answer the Pittsburgh run on the shoulders of Hines, who put in six straight points to give the Cardinal the lead back at 42-38 with 14:29 remaining. The Panthers took their first lead of the half when Scott was able to knock down a 3-pointer to give them a 43-42 lead at the 12:17 mark.
Both teams traded baskets until the eight minute mark as Reid knocked down a free throw to get Louisville within one (51-50). The Panthers went on an 8-2 run to produce their largest lead of the game at 59-52 after a three point play by Chelsea Cole with 5:49.
The Cardinals answered back with a 7-0 run capped off by a 3-pointer from Schimmel to tie the game at 59-59 with 4:58 remaining. The score remained close until Reid was able to score five points on back-to-back possessions to extend the Louisville lead to six at 72-66. The Panthers had to foul down the stretch, but the Cardinals knocked down 7-of-8 free throws for a 79-68 victory.
Louisville finished the game shooting 50.0 percent from the floor and just 26.3 percent from beyond the arc. Pittsburgh shot 38.3 percent from the floor and 29.2 percent from beyond the arc. The Panthers out rebounded the Cardinals 38-33.
The Cardinals will be back in action on Wednesday, Jan. 12 as they travel to Notre Dame, Ind., to take on No. 12/13 Notre Dame at 7:00 p.m.
