PITTSBURGH — The game didn't count. The memory surely will.

Karns City graduate LeeAnn Gibson, a freshman forward on the Slippery Rock University women's basketball team, drained the first two treys of her collegiate basketball career against the University of Pittsburgh at the Petersen Events Center last week.

Oddly enough, those 3-pointers — and Gibson's eight points and three rebounds — won't show up anywhere in the SRU record book. The Rock's 94-48 loss at Pitt was merely “an exhibition” for SRU, though the game and statistics all count for the undefeated Panthers.

“It doesn't matter. That was a thrill,” Gibson said. “To hit a couple of three's here ... I know I'm never going to play in a place like this ever again.”

But play for The Rock, she will — and she will play often.

She already is.

“LeeAnn is getting starter's minutes for us right now,” Rock coach and Mars graduate Bobby McGraw said. “I never thought I'd be getting this much out of her so soon.

“She is way ahead of where I anticipated her being at this point.”

When McGraw first recruited Gibson, he figured she would be a bit of a project her freshman year as she adapted to a new position and a new level of basketball.

Instead, she has turned into a major contributor.

The 5-foot-11 Gibson, a guard at Karns City, is playing forward for The Rock. She has already started one game and is averaging 23 minutes per contest. She has become SRU's most productive player off the bench, averaging 7.2 points and 4.0 rebounds per game.

“I am surprised to be playing as much as I have been,” Gibson said. “I was a guard all through high school but (Karns City) Coach (Dave) Kerschbaumer moved me to forward for the last few games of my senior year and that helped me get ready for this.

“Transitioning into a post player, I know I have to get stronger. I've been working on it.”

McGraw said he first realized Gibson could help him right away with her performance against Fairmont State in a preseason scrimmage.

“We're talking about a 20-win, nationally-ranked team with five senior starters and LeeAnn more than held her own in that scrimmage,” McGraw said. “She showed she belonged. She opened my eyes.

“I wouldn't be at all surprised if she cracked our starting lineup on a regular basis before too long.”

Another plus for Gibson has been her free throw shooting. She sank all nine of her foul shots at the Ashland (Ohio) Thanksgiving Classic over the weekend and is shooting 76 percent from the line this year.

“I know I'll be out-sized down low against most of the teams we play,” Gibson allowed. “I have to get stronger and block out to be productive on the boards.”

The physical side of the game has never been a problem for Gibson, however.

“She'll go in there and scrap. That's her game,” McGraw said.

Another Keystone-Shortway Athletic Conference product, Brooke Hinderliter from Redbank Valley, is starting for The Rock as a freshman. She played point guard against Pitt and scored 15 points.

“We've been playing travel ball together since sixth grade,” Gibson said. “Now we get to be teammates at Slippery Rock for four years.

“We want to grow as a team and win. This experience (at Pitt) will definitely help.”

Gibson was a two-time Butler County Player of the Year and graduated third on Karns City's all-time scoring list.