PITTSBURGH (Interstat) — Theresa Hagans scored 17 points and dished out eight assists to lead the Pittsburgh women’s basketball team to an 87-65 victory over Le Moyne on Tuesday night at Petersen Events Center.

The Panthers used a dominant performance inside, outscoring the Dolphins 32-14 in the paint and capitalizing on a significant rebounding advantage to pull away in the second half and improve their record to 3-2. Le Moyne, which fell to 1-3 with the loss, kept the game competitive through three quarters with a flurry of three-pointers but ultimately could not match Pittsburgh’s offensive efficiency.

Pittsburgh set the tone early, opening the game on a 9-0 run. Hagans, a guard from Utica, New York, was instrumental from the start, drawing a foul on the game’s first possession and sinking two free throws before orchestrating the Panthers’ offense. The home team led 22-14 after the first quarter, fueled by strong play in the paint from Fatima Diakhate and Angel Jones.

Le Moyne found its rhythm from beyond the arc in the second period. The Dolphins connected on five three-pointers in the quarter, with Eli Clark and Sierra Linnin leading the long-range assault. A three-pointer from Peyton Dincher just before the halftime buzzer cut Pittsburgh’s lead to 40-34 heading into the locker room, giving the visiting Dolphins momentum.

That momentum was short-lived. Pittsburgh came out of the break and reasserted its interior dominance, starting the third quarter on a 13-4 run to stretch the lead to 15 points. The Panthers shot 53% from the floor in the period, consistently finding high-percentage shots. While Le Moyne continued to fire from deep, the Panthers’ ability to score inside and at the free-throw line, where they were a perfect 10-for-10 for the game, kept them firmly in control.

The fourth quarter saw Pittsburgh put the game completely out of reach, outscoring Le Moyne 24-14. The Panthers’ offensive balance was on full display as Mikayla Johnson and Lauren Rust provided key contributions down the stretch. Johnson finished with 13 points and four assists, while Rust added crucial interior baskets to help seal the victory.

Pittsburgh’s offensive rating of 126.5 points per 100 possessions dwarfed Le Moyne’s mark of 95.9, underscoring the disparity in offensive execution. The Panthers also won the battle on the glass, grabbing 14 offensive rebounds to Le Moyne’s eight, which led to numerous second-chance opportunities.

For Le Moyne, Sierra Linnin led all scorers with 17 points, all of which came from three-pointers or free throws. Eli Clark, a 5-foot-8 guard from Oakhurst, New Jersey, added 14 points and five assists, while Ashley Buragas of Hopewell Junction, New York, chipped in 10 points and four assists. The Dolphins’ offense relied heavily on the three-ball, attempting 39 shots from long range and making 15.

Alongside Hagans’ standout performance, Pittsburgh received significant contributions from its frontcourt. Fatima Diakhate of Dakar, Senegal, scored 14 points and was a force defensively. Angel Jones from Woodbridge, Virginia, added 12 points, and Carla Viegas of Malaga, Spain, provided nine points, three assists, and a block.

The game was played in front of an announced crowd of 592 at the Petersen Events Center. Pittsburgh will look to build on the win when it hosts Robert Morris on Saturday. Le Moyne returns home to face Cornell on the same day, seeking to end a two-game skid.