CANCUN, Mexico -- Shavonte Zellous scored 23 points and No. 22 Pitt woke up after 15 lackluster minutes to beat Liberty, 54-47, in the Caribbean Classic yesterday.

The Panthers (12-0) shot just 38 percent from the field and trailed for most of the game against Liberty (6-5), which was led by Megan Frazee with 16 points.

"In the first half, I thought we were outplayed, outdisciplined and had no heart," Pitt coach Agnus Berenato said. "We didn't need to change the game plan, we just needed to step it up and I think we really responded. When Shavonte [Zellous] got going, she was outstanding. Karlyle Lim came into the game and on defense, really made some things happen for us."

Zellous scored 17 of her 23 points in the second half. Zellous also led the team with seven rebounds and had four assists. Marcedes Walker chipped in with 13 points and five rebounds.

Zellous made a basket with 5:41 remaining for Pitt's first lead in the second half, and the Panthers, who made 1 of 6 3-pointers, tightened on defense down the stretch to defeat the Flames.

Pitt closes the tournament today against fourth-ranked Duke (11-0), which defeated SMU, 75-45.

Liberty jumped to a 5-0 lead, but the Panthers responded with a 12-0 run, holding the Flames from scoring a field goal for more than seven minutes. At 5:48, Pitt held its largest lead of the half, 21-13, but a 12-3 Liberty run gave the Flames their first lead since a 5-2 advantage early in the half. Liberty took a 26-24 lead into the locker room.

In the second half, Pitt found itself down eight, 40-32, with 10:24 remaining. The Panthers went on a 10-0 run to take a 42-40 lead and would not give it up down the stretch. Zellous was key in that run scoring 11 of Pitt's 14 points at one point.

Pitt had 11 turnovers in the game, including three in the second half while the Flames turned the ball over 18 times.