Point Park beats WVU Tech on Senior Night, finishes regular season at 18-8

PITTSBURGH -- Point Park University women's basketball is going into the postseason on a winning note after Friday's 94-56 dismantling of WVU Tech on Senior Night.

The Pioneers got everyone involved in the River States Conference victory to finish off the regular season at 18-8 overall, 11-6 RSC. 

Point Park will be playing its next game in the RSC Championship quarterfinals on Feb. 28. The opponent and site of that game is yet to be determined with five conference games still to be played on the final day of the regular season Feb. 24. 

The Pioneers have a chance to be at home for the quarterfinals but may have to go on the road depending on Saturday's results. The quarterfinal winners will advance to the semifinals March 2 with the finals March 5. The higher seed hosts each round of the championship.

Point Park honored its four seniors -- all graduate students at the university -- before the game. Two of those seniors had their usual big performances with Gillian Piccolino putting up 22 points and seven assists and Gabriella Legister getting 19 points and 11 rebounds.

Fellow senior Jillian Spano had a big 3-pointer to help the Pioneers win going away. She hit from deep for a 92-47 lead in the final stages. It was one of the many contributions up and down the lineup in a game in which all 11 Point Park players who dressed saw action and scored. 

Final senior J Curry was not dressed for the game but was one of the four graduate transfers who were recognized in the pregame. All of them will graduate this spring after completing their masters work. 

Point Park had a modest lead of 21-16 after the first quarter that saw them shoot 38 percent. The gas pedal was put down after that, beginning with a 20-4 run in the second quarter to start running away with it. 

Ari Bleda with a putback layup, Legister with an inside basket off an assist from Piccolino and then a steal and layup by Piccolino got that rally started in the latter half of the second. The Pioneers were eventually up 41-20 at the break.

A spectacular third quarter had the Pioneers shoot 68 percent (13 for 19) and continue to pour it on. 

Alexis Giles, who had 12 points and three treys, hit a 3-pointer early in the third to set another tone. The lead reached 30 points, 62-32, on a trey by Coral Homs midway through. 

Point Park had 70 points through three quarters and was up 70-34 after a basket by Legister to close out the period. 

The Pioneers led by as many as 47 points before taking the starters out in the middle of the fourth. Point Park had 31 bench points on the night with Fatim Sarr Ndow scoring nine and pulling in 12 rebounds.

The reserves also had Aichata Ballo with five points and five assists, Homs with five poitns and four rebounds and Isabella Pelaia seven points on perfect shooting of 2 for 2 from the field (including a trey) and 2 for 2 at the foul line. 

Bleda turned in eight points and eight rebounds from the starting five. The rebounds were huge in favor of Point Park, 56-35. 

Point Park forced 19 turnovers, committed just eight and had a 21-2 advantage in points off turnovers.

Check back for updates on Point Park's spot in the RSC Championship when the final games of the regular season are completed on Saturday.