PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Playing in front of a large group of Bulldog fans in enemy territory at Petersen Events Center, the Yale women's basketball team fell behind by as many as 10 in the fourth quarter at Pitt in the season opener Tuesday night. But led by their captain, Pittsburgh native Jenna Clark, the Bulldogs showed their fight by clawing back to within two on a Clark three-pointer with 74 seconds left. There was no storybook ending, however, as Pitt answered with a three-pointer of its own and hung on for a 79-74 win.
 
The game was a homecoming for Clark, who finished with 19 points, nine assists and six rebounds. She was a two-time captain at nearby Thomas Jefferson High, where she set the school record for career assists and earned first team all-state honors in 2018-19.
 
Led by Clark, Yale came out on fire in the first, taking a 23-16 lead on a jumper by junior guard/forward Mackenzie Egger and going into the break up by five. Clark scored 10 points in the first, hitting four of her five shots from the field.
 
The second quarter saw foul trouble catch up to the Bulldogs. Clark was forced to the bench when she picked up her third with 4:44 left. With sophomore guard Kiley Capstraw also at three fouls, the Bulldogs had to go to the bench early and often. Junior guard Christen McCann chipped in five points, including a three-pointer in the waning seconds of the second quarter, on her way to a 10 point night. But Pitt outscored Yale 24-11 in the second and went into halftime up 42-34.
 
Another one of Yale's starters ran into foul trouble in the third, as junior guard Nyla McGill picked up her fourth foul with 1:49 left. Still, the Bulldogs hit the Panthers with a pair of threes – from Capstraw and McCann – to start creeping closer, getting within 58-52 by the end of the quarter. 
 
Yale cut Pitt's lead to four with 8:59 to play on a Capstraw jumper, but the Panthers answered with a pair of layups to get some breathing room. Still the Bulldogs battled. Clark provided a few more sparks, setting up senior forward Brenna McDonald for a layup with 1:19 to play that sent McDonald to the line for an and-one with Yale trailing 76-71. Capstraw rebounded the miss and set Clark up for a three to pull Yale within two with less than a minute to play. But Pitt's Bella Perkins  hit a three that put the game out of reach.

Quotes from Coach Eshe

• On Jenna Clark's big night: "Jenna is such a talent, such a pleasure to coach. I really liked the way she was getting her offense in different ways tonight. You look up and she's got nine assists and only four turnovers -- that's a good ratio."
• On Christen McCann providing 10 points off the bench: "Christen stepped into a role she really hadn't been in before, running the point for us. I'm incredibly proud of her. She really found her offense."
• On the play of Yale's post players, Brenna McDonald and Grace Thybulle: "Both of our bigs helped. They didn't turn the ball over and they scored at a really high clip. They talked and navigated the defense very well. I'm incredibly proud of them."
• On going on an 8-0 run in the fourth after trailing by 10, and nearly pulling out the win: "Compared to last year at this time, we are a different team. We're more confident. We're resilient, but we have to figure out how to close it out. Especially this early in the season, we're in a pretty good spot."

 
Notes

• Five Yale players scored in double digits, and three players had at least four assists.
• Junior forward Grace Thybulle chipped in 14 points off the bench.
• Reigning Ivy League Co-Defensive Player of the Year Nyla McGill led Yale with four steals, adding five rebounds.
• The reigning Ivy League leader in blocks per game, senior forward Brenna McDonald, blocked five shots.

 
Up Next

• Yale hosts Saint Joseph's in the home opener Saturday at noon at Lee Amphitheater.