WBB vs Pitt Dec 31

The Ladies host Pitt on Sunday at 2 PM. This is an ACCNx game. Watch on your computer. This should be a good game for the ladies to get back in the groove after the layoff and get ready for the better teams on the ACC schedule.

Tory Verdi is in his first year as Pitt head coach. He comes to Pitt from UMass where he averaged 18 wins over 7 seasons and won the A10 regular season title last season; and UMass won the A10tournament and achieved their first ever invite to the big dance in 2021.

Pitt is 6-7, 5-2 at home and winless on the road. I watched a little of the Le Moyne game this week and Pitt really struggled to take control of the game. LeMoyne was up 3 after the first qtr and only down 3 at the half.

The Panthers are not a tall team. Three of their starters are under 6 foot; their tallest players are 6' 2". Freshman Aaryn Battle played 40 minutes against Le Moyne in a game against a 2-9 NEC team that was about out of reach after 3 quarters. Three of the starters, who have started every game, play 30 - 35 min/game; four other players average 25-20 min/game. Bella Perkins, who has played in 12 of 13 games and started 4 times, did not play against Le Moyne.

#2 Liatu King leads the team with 19.7 points and 9.9 rebounds per game; she shoots 53.6% from the floor and has not attemped a 3. King also has 28 steals and 22 blocks in 13 games. Aislin Malcolm, #20 is the only other player averaging double digits at 10.9; she shoots 43.3% overall and 44.7% from 3 on 21 of 47.

INDIVIDUAL STATS:

TEAM STATS:

Pitt shoots 42% overall and 31% from three, while allowing 39% and 35%. The Hokies should shoot much better than Pitt's early season opponents in this game. Pitt averages more turnovers than assistS per game; and they don't shoot free throws particularly well at 68.5%.

Overall this should be a good game for the Hokies to knock off the rust and get ready for the meat of their schedule.

LET'S GO HOKIES!