ST. THOMAS, USVI – The sixth-ranked Maryland women's basketball team (6-0) beat Pittsburgh, 70-49, to go 3-0 in the Paradise Jam and win the Reef Division title Saturday at the University of the Virgin Islands.

Junior Brionna Jones led the way in Saturday's matchup with a season-high 22 points and 14 rebounds. She was named Tournament MVP after averaging 17.7 points and 13.0 rebounds in the three-game stretch. Junior Shatori Walker-Kimbrough added 16 points vs. the Panthers (4-2) and was named to the All-Tournament Team. Freshman Kiah Gillespie chipped in 10 points in the Saturday's win.

“It was a hard-fought battle between both teams,” head coach Brenda Frese said. “It started to show, three games in three days. It wasn't the prettiest, but we found a way. We dominated the glass and had some uncharacteristic turnovers we need to improve upon. I like how we hung tough down the stretch to come away with a championship.”

Jones scored eight of the Terrapins' first 10 points for a 10-5 lead five minutes into the game. Three straight layups from fifth-year senior Brene Moseley pushed it to a 19-9 lead with just under a minute left in the quarter.

Maryland started the second quarter on a 12-0 run, led by Jones, Walker-Kimbrough and Gillespie. The run extended the Terrapins' lead to 31-11 midway through the second quarter. Over the final five minutes, the Panthers made a run to make it a 33-22 lead at halftime.

In the third quarter, the Terrapins went on a 12-3 run, capped by a three-pointer from Walker-Kimbrough, which made it 49-29 with just over two minutes left in the period.

The Panthers once again cut into the Terps' lead, making it 57-46 with 5:35 to play, thanks to eight points from Yasine Diop. Senior Malina Howard scored eight points to answer down the stretch.

Maryland outrebounded Pitt, 50-22 to control the glass.

The Terrapins beat Old Dominion, 95-49, Thursday in their Paradise Jam opener, then topped South Dakota State, 62-55, in their second game Friday night.  

Maryland went 2-1 in its first trip to the Paradise Jam, back in 2005. The Terps beat Gonzaga, 88-50, then topped No. 9 Michigan State, 75-61, before losing a close battle to No. 2 Tennessee, 80-75.

The Terrapins are ranked No. 6 in the Associated Press and the USA Today Division I Top 25 Coaches polls.

Next, Maryland will return home to XFINITY Center to host No. 23 Syracuse (3-1) Wednesday in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The Terrapins-Orange game will be televised around the world on the Big Ten Network and the BTN2Go app.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit umterps.com. Parking will be free and open after 4 p.m.

– Terps –