Antoine (outside) and Dockery (inside) lead the way

This was the China and Doc Show.

Point guard China Antoine scored 18 points on six three-pointers -- both career highs -- and 6-4 center Kristen Dockery made her first career start as the Gophers women's basketball team beat Pittsburgh 73-63 on Wednesday night before an announced crowd of 2,752 at Williams Arena.

This was the first game ever in the Super Six Series -- designed for six power conferences to play six games among each other each season. The Gophers (2-1) and Michigan State are representing the Big Ten this year.

Antoine, a 5-3 senior, was 0-for-5 on three-point attempts in the Gophers' first two games, but against Pittsburgh the junior college transfer from Madison, Ala., made six of seven.

"I have been working on my shot the past few days to get that rhythm back," Antoine said.

Dockery, a heralded high school recruit from Granger, Ind., was plagued by injuries her first three seasons. As a freshman she had arthroscopic surgery on both knees on the same day in December.

The senior tri-captain started against Pittsburgh because Katie Loberg, a 6-4 sophomore, was out with a left knee injury. Loberg's status is day-to-day.

The only time she became discouraged was when she missed a few easy inside shots. She was 3-for-10 from the field.

"I just waited for that opportunity, and my team needed me," Dockery said. "I just had to be ready to go and put my best effort out there. And follow the game plan."

Said Gophers coach Pam Borton: "[Dockery] played like she had played in every game the last four years."

Actually, this was her 17th game and came on the heels of her previous best game. On Sunday, when Loberg was injured, Dockery played 16 minutes and had four points and nine rebounds in a loss to Wisconsin-Green Bay.

Turns out that was an omen.

"Minnesota took our posts out of the game," Pitt coach Agnus Berenato said, "and that's a big part of what we do."

Chelsea Cole and Shayla Scott, the Panthers' two tallest starters at 6-3 and 6-1, were a combined 2-for-13 from the field and had seven total points.

Guard Brittaney Thomas led the Panthers (1-1) with 24 points. Others in double figures for the Gophers were Kiara Buford with 15 points, Voigt with 12 and Brianna Mastey with a career-high 10.

"We got great contributions from everybody," Borton said.