Panthers to Host another Top-Five Team in Fighting Irish

GAME 21: NO. 5/5 NOTRE DAME (18-2, 6-1 ACC) VS. PITT (9-11, 1-6 ACC)
Thursday, Jan. 25 | 7 p.m. ET
Pittsburgh, Pa. | Petersen Events Center (12,508)
Watch | Live Stats | Tickets | Radio: 1320AM WJAS
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GAME NOTES

PITTSBURGH – Pitt women's basketball (9-11, 1-6 ACC) will host its second top-five team in the last seven days when it welcomes No. 5/5 Notre Dame (18-2, 6-1 ACC) to Petersen Events Center for a 7 p.m. tilt Thursday.

HOW TO FOLLOW

The game will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra, available on the WatchESPN app, with Jeff Hatthorn on the call and Amanda Silay as analyst.
Live stats will be available at PittsburghPanthers.com.
On the radio, fans can find the game on 1320AM WJAS in the Pittsburgh area with George Von Benko on the call and Jesse Irwin as analyst.
Fans may follow live updates on Twitter and Instagram at @Pitt_WBB.

PAW PRINTS

Junior center Kalista Walters continues to lead the ACC in field goal percentage (.654), ranking fourth in the country. She ranks third in the league with 2.05 blocked shots per game.
Sophomore point guard Jasmine Whitney is fourth in the ACC with an assist/turnover ratio of 2.07, and is fifth in the league with 4.8 assists per game.
Redshirt junior forward Yacine Diop ranks 11th in the ACC in scoring average, with 15.7 points per game.
The Panthers remain second in the country in total blocked shots (134), behind the nation's leader, William & Mary (142). Pitt leads the ACC in blocked shots per game (6.7), ranking seventh in the country.

A WIN WOULD…

Be Pitt's first win against a top-5 team in program history.
Be the Panthers' first win against a top-10 team since defeating No. 8/6 North Carolina, 84-59, Jan. 8, 2015.
Snap a 19-game losing streak for the Panthers against ranked opponents. Pitt's last win against a ranked opponent was against No. 17/18 Chattanooga in the 2015 NCAA Tournament First Round.
Snap an eight-game losing streak in the all-time series against the Fighting Irish. Notre Dame holds a 25-3 advantage against the Panthers. Pitt's last win against the Fighting Irish came Feb. 3, 2009, at Petersen Events Center (82-70).
Snap a four-game losing streak when playing against Notre Dame in Pittsburgh.

LAST TIME OUT

Junior Kauai Bradley led Pitt with 13 points in a 70-52 loss at (RV/RV) Syracuse Sunday at the Carrier Dome.
Bradley made 4-of-6 from the field and was a perfect 3-of-3 from long range on the day. Sophomore Alayna Gribble was the only other Panther with double figures in the scoring column, scoring 10 points. Junior center Kalista Walters had nine points and eight rebounds.
The Panthers fell victim to the Orange's home win streak, as Syracuse improved to 10-0 at the Carrier Dome this season. Pitt outshot Syracuse, 38.0 percent to 37.9 percent, but the Orange had the upper hand on the boards, 43-31.

MILESTONE WATCH

Three Panthers are nearing career milestones:
Redshirt junior Yacine Diop is three steals away from 100, and is 64 points away from reaching 1,000 for her career. She is on pace to become the 19th 1,000-point scorer in school history and the first to reach the milestone since Brianna Kiesel did as a junior in 2013-14.
Junior center Kalista Walters is two blocks and eight steals away from reaching 100 for her career in each category.
Sophomore point guard Jasmine Whitney is five assists away from reaching 200 for her career.

SCOUTING THE FIGHTING IRISH

No. 5/5 Notre Dame (18-2, 6-1 ACC) enters Sunday's contest riding a three-game win streak in which it has defeated its opposition by an average of 32.0 points per game.
On Jan. 18, the Fighting Irish secured its largest comeback in program history, overcoming a 23-point deficit to defeat No. 6/7 Tennessee at Purcell Pavilion, 84-70.
The lone blemish on Notre Dame's ACC record is a 100-67 loss at Louisville Jan. 11. The Fighting Irish's only other loss this season was at No. 1/1 UConn in non-conference play Dec. 3 (80-71).
Reigning ACC Player of the Week Arike Ogunbowale averaged 25.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.0 steals in wins over No.6/7 Tennessee and Clemson last week. Her overall season scoring average of 20.3 points per game ranks second in the league and 27th in the nation.

UP NEXT

Pitt will hold its 11th annual Pink The Petersen game for breast cancer awareness when the Panthers host No. 18 Duke Sunday at 2 p.m. at Petersen Events Center.
A portion from each ticket sold will be donated to Susan G. Komen Pittsburgh. Fans will receive a free Pink The Petersen T-shirt while supplies last. Breast cancer survivors in attendance will be recognized on the court at halftime.
Tickets are available online at PittsburghPanthers.com or by calling 1-800-643-PITT (7488).