The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford men's and women's basketball teams will host Alfred State in an AMCC match-up on Wednesday Night. The game has been labeled a "White Out" for all fans and the student section. The game also serves as the kick off for the annual Hot Paws clothes donation, hosted by the university's tennis programs.
The Pitt-Bradford men's team has started the year with a 1-3 record overall with a 0-1 record in AMCC play. In their last game, the Panther's fell to Hilbert college by a score of 81-78. The Panthers battled back from a double digit second half deficit, but were unable to overtake the 1st place Hawks. Justin Kusiappouh led all scorers with 24 points and grabbed more rebounds than anyone in the game, picking up 14. The game marked his 3rd double-double of the season. The Panthers have 4 players averaging double digit points on the season, led by Kusiappouh who averages 14.0. He is followed closely by Zach Dahlstrand, who is averaging 13.0 points per game in only 17.5 minutes per game. Kusiappouh's 12.0 rebounds per game is the second best average in the conference.
Their opponents on Wednesday will be the Alfred State Pioneers. The Pioneers are beginning their inaugural season in the AMCC and have started off with a 1-1 conference record. They lost their first AMCC game to Penn State-Behrend, but in their last contest, were able to pick up a victory against D'Youville. Sophomore Guard Ryan Gentile is the Pioneers leading scorer on the season, as he averages 16.2 per contest. Freshman Markel Jenkins leads the team in rebounding, 11.4 per game, and blocks, 1.6 per game.
The women's team head into the Alfred State match-up looking for their first victory of the season. They are currently 0-5 with an 0-1 record in AMCC play. Last tuesday, they fell to Hilbert by a score of 72-49. Shaelyn Snipes led the offensive effort for the Panthers, scoring 9 points and dishing out 6 assists. Jenna Hicks scored 8 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Snipes is the lone Panther averaging double figures on the young season, as she scores 11.8 points per game. Hicks, a senior, is third in the AMCC in total rebounds, averaging 10.2 per contest, and leads the league in offensive rebounding as she pulls in 5.6 a game.
Alfred State's women have started the season 1-3, with an 0-2 record in AMCC play. They opened their conference season with a 31-point loss to Penn State Behrend, and in their last contest fell to D'Youville 65-50. Rayanna Anderson leads the Pioneers with 13.8 points per game, and Jordyn Pettit also averages double figures, scoring 12.0 per game. Pettit also leads the team in rebounding posting a 8.3 per game average.
The teams are looking to their fans and student section, The Claw, to help them to victory as they play their final home game before the semester break. They have dubbed the game a "White Out" looking for their cheering sections to wear white and match the wintry weather outside the KOA Arena.
In addition to the basketball games and the "White Out" theme, the game will also serve as the official kick off of the Hot Paws campaign, held by the Pitt-Bradford men's and women's tennis teams. The campaign is looking for donations of winter clothing items, such as gloves, hats, socks and scarves, which will be donated and distributed to local children who are in need of the items. The teams will be collecting donations in the main lobby of the McDowell Sport and Fitness Center before and during the games. They, along with athletic department staff, will continue to collect donations at following home sporting events for basketball, swimming and wrestling, as well as throughout normal business hours in the lobby. The campaign will run throughout the winter sports season.
Tip-off for the men's game will be at 6:00 p.m. in the KOA Arena with the women's game beginning approximately 30 minutes after the end of the first game.
