PITTSBURGH – The Pitt women’s basketball team dropped its ACC-opening game against Miami, 62-56, on Sunday afternoon in the Petersen Events Center. Pitt (6-6, 0-1 ACC) did not lead in the contest but only trailed by four points with 30 seconds remaining.
Despite the loss, Khadija Faye continued to shine for the Panthers, notching 21 points and a game-high 14 rebounds to mark her ACC-leading sixth double-double. Mikayla Johnson added 11 points, including knocking down two shots from behind the arc and grabbed six rebounds.
Miami (9-1, 1-0 ACC) was led by guard Haley Cavinder, who tallied a double-double with a game-high 22 points and 11 rebounds. The Hurricanes shot 40.7 percent (24-for-59) from the field and 34.8 percent (8-of-23) from behind the arc as a team. Miami outrebounded Pitt, 39-35, as the Panthers moved to 1-3 this season when being outrebounded.
Pitt shot 34.5 percent (19-for-55) from the field and 27.3 percent (6-for 22) from 3-point land. Aislin Malcolm and MaKayla Elmore added shots from behind the arc, as Elmore also notched a team and season-high four assists.
How It Happened
Early shooting woes set Pitt behind Miami early, as the Panthers shot 13.3 percent (2-for-15) from the field in the first quarter. The Panthers came up empty on their first seven possessions before a Johnson 3-pointer ended the cold streak. Miami opened with a 10-3 lead, knocking down three 3-pointers and forcing a Pitt timeout. A Marley Washenitz dish to Faye for a contested score in the paint marked a bright spot for the Panthers, who trailed 15-6 through the first ten minutes.
The Hurricanes raced out on a 10-3 run to start the second quarter, forcing another Panther timeout. Pitt responded with a 6-2 spurt following the break to chip into the Miami lead. With one minute remaining in the first half, Elmore netted a 3-pointer, drew the foul and made her free throw to complete the four-point play. On the next offensive possession, Aaryn Battle drilled a 3-pointer to bring the Panthers back within 10. Pitt trailed at half, 32-22.
The Panthers carried their momentum into the second half, as Washenitz hit a jump shot off of an Elmore assist on the opening possession. On the following possession, Faye hit a fadeaway jump shot as the Panthers worked within six of the Canes. Miami extended its lead back to 11 before a Brooklynn Miles dribble drive and acrobatic layup brought the Panthers back within nine at 44-35. A Johnson right-wing 3-pointer from a Faye assist in the final minute of the third frame continued to close the gap as the Panthers trailed 48-44 through three quarters of play.
Malcolm knocked down a shot from behind the arc to open the Panthers fourth-quarter scoring. Elmore continued to work for the Panthers inside, as she collected a pass from Faye in the post and banked in a tough layup to bring Pitt within two at 55-53. Following traded buckets, both teams went the next three minutes without scoring. Pitt finished the game shooting 0-for-6 from the field to close the contest.
Game Notes
- Khadija Faye notched her ACC-leading sixth double-double of the season with 21 points and a game-high 14 rebounds
- MaKayla Elmore had a team and season-high four assists.
- Pitt shot 13.3 percent (2-for-15) in the first quarter and 42.5 (17-for 40) in the second, third and fourth quarter
- Pitt moved to 1-3 this season when being outrebounded by opponents
Up Next
Pitt plays the final game of its four-game homestand on Thursday, Dec. 19 against New Hampshire. Tipoff is set for 2:30 p.m., and the game can be streamed on ACCNX.
