Women's Hoops: Hokies vs Pitt Thursday Dec 10 at 6 PM

The Lady Hokies(5-0) play Pitt(2-1) at 6PM on Dec 10 at Cassell. The game is on ACCNx. The Panthers have beaten George Mason (72-57) and Hofstra(71-58) and lost to Delaware(79-85). They shoot 43.8% from the field and 36.7% from 3. They have out rebounded their opposition by 8.3 rpg. They have a 1.4 turnover to assist ratio. Their two big players have been frequent foulers: Igbokwe 3+ fouls per game; Brown 4 fouls per game.
The Hokies will have a height advantage; but Igbokwe at 6'4 is a big body underneath.

Starters:

Jayla Everett #20, 5'10" Junior Guard transfer from New Mexico. Mountain West Freshman of the year in 2018-19. Started 17 games as a sophomore point guard for New Mexico last year. Shooting 46.3% overall and 50% from 3 on 24 attempts. Has more turnovers than assists. The Hokies will have to stay with her as Pitt likes to kick the ball back out after a dribble drive for an open 3.

Dayshanette Harris, #1, 5'7" Sophomore Guard. Started 24 games and was an ACC All-Freshman pick last year. Lead the Panthers in scoring(12.7), assists(2.6) and steals(1.8). Only shooting 31% and 14.3% from 3 this year. Averaging 12 ppg and 8 rpg in 2020-21. Also 4+ turnovers per game.

Gabbie Green #12, 5.7" Senior Guard. Transfer from South Plains College before last season. Started all 31 games in 2019-20. Shooting 44.4% and 40% from 3. Another threat on the kick out pass from 3.

Rita Igbokwe, #23, 6'4" Sophomore Center. Shooting 61.5% on 13 shots mostly in the paint. A big body that plays physical underneath. Fouled out in first game this year and is only averaging 17 minutes per game.

Amber Brown #5, 6'0" Sophomore Forward. ACC Freshman of the week twice as a freshman. Started all 31 games last year. Shooting 66.7% with no attempts from 3. Averages 4 fouls per game.

Others. Five of the next 7 players are freshman and the other two are Sophomores. The other Panther who has played is a senior, who has played 9 minutes per game. Pitt is a team with potential that is still young.

Cynthia Ezeja, # 14, 6'3" Redshirt Freshman Forward. Plays 15 minutes per game in only 2 games. 3 of 5 for 60% with no 3 attempts. 3.5 ppg and 4 rpg.

Destiny Strother #31, 5'9" Sophomore Guard. Transfer from Marquette. Playing 15 minutes per game this year with 4 ppg and 1.5 rpg.

Emy Hayford #4, 5'8" Sophomore Guard. Played in all 31 games starting 11 last year. Shooting 27.3% and 0 for 3 from 3 point. Playing 16 minutes per game this year.

Below are early season stats:

This will be a more physical game than we have played so far. Igbokwe will be a force underneath. Kitley and Jones will be challenged. A key to this game might be how tight the refs call contact; if Pitt is allowed to muscle our players off their shots without being called, this could be a tough game for us. If the refs call a tight game, both of the Pitt bigs will spend most of the game on the bench with foul trouble.

On defense, the Hokies need to stay with their assignment. Pitt really likes the inside-out game to find open 3's, especially for Everett.

The Hokies are the more talented team and should prevail unless this week continues as it has for my teams. Football looked really bad against Clemson, my Steelers stunk up the game against Washington (great game for Logan Thomas), and the men's BBall team did not look ready to play against Penn State. Come on Ladies, change my luck.

Go Hokies!