Youngstown -- Playing with just seven healthy players, the Youngstown State women's basketball team put together a hard-fought effort against No. 19 Pittsburgh on Wednesday night at the Beeghly Center. In the end, the Penguins suffered a 89-37 loss to nationally-ranked Pitt.

For the contest, the Penguins (0-7) used the 3-point line to their advantage while the Panthers (6-0) dominated the inside. YSU made seven 3-point field goals and six from inside the arc. Pitt was 39-of-71 (54.9 precent) for the contest and scored 54 of its 89 points from inside the paint. It made just four 3-pointers in the game. Both teams combined to make 11 free throws in 22 attempts.

Leading the way offensively for YSU was freshman Brandi Brown who had 10 points and seven rebounds. Kenya Middlebrooks ended up with nine points, making three 3-pointers. Maryum Jenkins and Kaitlin March each drained treys for the Guins. As a team, YSU had 10 assists on 13 made baskets.

Pittsburgh had six players score in double figures led by Pepper Wilson's 13 off the bench. Katie Popovec had 11 points and 12 boards while Jania Sims had 11 as well.

In the first half, both teams struggled to find their shooting touch early. YSU started the contest making one of its first 18 shots while the Panthers opened the game by making 4-of-17 attempts.

The Penguins made six field goals during the opening half, three of which came from behind the 3-point arc. The Panthers had a major advantage in the paint outscoring the Guins 24-4. Pitt warmed up making 16 of their final 21 shots to shot 52.6 percent (20-of-38) from the field.

Pitt scored the first six points of the contest before Rachel Manuel made YSU's initial basket of the game at the 18:22 mark. From the 17:16 to the 11:22 mark neither team scored before Makala Gasparek knocked down a free throw cutting the Pitt advantage to 9-3.

The Panthers reeled off the next 15 points before Maryum Jenkins' triple at the 7:42 mark stopped the run.

From that point on the Penguins played tough getting outscored just 21-13 the finale seven-plus minutes of the half to trail 47-19 at the break. Middlebrooks drained two 3-pointers in the final three-and-a-half minutes to highlight the effort.

YSU returns to action on Saturday when they travel to Akron to face the Zips. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. at the JAR and the game will be broadcast live on 570 WKBN.