Pitt Welcomes Duquesne Saturday Night For 40th Edition Of The City Game

PITTSBURGH - The University of Pittsburgh women's basketball team (3-0, 0-0 ACC) is set to host cross-town rival Duquesne on Saturday night at the Petersen Events Center for the 40^th edition of the City Game between the two squads. Tip is set for 7:00 pm and the game will air live on ACC Network Extra.

HOW TO FOLLOW

Saturday's game will air live on ACC Network Extra by clicking HERE.
Live stats of the game can be found by clicking HERE.
Live updates throughout the game will also be posted on Twitter by following the Pitt women's basketball account @Pitt_WBB.

STORYLINES

Sophomore Maliyah Johnson exploded on the scene Wednesday morning in the win over Bryant as she netted a career-high 20 points in the win. Johnson finished off her game going 7-for-9 from the floor while netting a career-high four three-pointers.
The Pitt defense put together another strong showing last time out as they held Bryant to just 54 points on 35.6% shooting overall and 24.0% from behind the arc. Pitt has now held each of their first three opponents to under 55 points for the first time in a season since 2016-17. Pitt has now held 32 of their last 33 opponents to 45% or less shooting from the floor. Pitt is allowing just 46.7 ppg against which ranks 5th in the ACC.

THE OPENING TIP

The Panthers will welcome Duquesne to the Pete Saturday night for the 40th edition of the City Game. Saturday's game will tip at 6pm on ACC Network Extra.
Pitt will be looking to improve to 4-0 to start the season for the second straight year. The Panthers downed Duquesne last year to improve to 4-0.
The duo of Maliyah Johnson and Dayshanette Harris was too much for Bryant Wednesday as they combined to score 37 points, six rebounds, four steals and three assists while shooting a combined 68.4% from the floor and 61.5% from behind the arc.

LAST TIME OUT – BRYANT

The Panthers improved to 3-0 for the second straight year as they earned a 93-54 blowout victory over Bryant on School Day at the Pete. Area school-aged children filled the Pete as the 3,100+ fans watched the Panthers hot-shooting squad collect the win.
The 93 points are the most by Pitt since 2014.
Sophomore Maliyah Johnson had the best game of her young career in the win as she netted 20 points, three rebounds and two assists while going 7-for-9 from the floor and 4-for-6 from behind the arc.
Senior guard Dayshanette Harris had a strong game as she finished with 17 points, three rebounds and three steals while draining a career-high four three-pointers in the win.
As a team, the Panthers shot a season-high 60.7% from the floor and 52.2% from behind the arc in the win. It marked the first time since Dec. 29, 2012 against Buffalo that the Panthers shot at least 60% from the floor.

DEFENSE LEADING THE WAY

The Panthers have leaned on their strong defense to start the season and it has earned them a trio of double digit victories to open the 2022-23 campaign.
Pitt has continued their tough defense from the end of last season as they held Bryant to just 54 points on 35.6% shooting from the floor and 24% from behind the arc in the win Wednesday.
Dating back to last season, the Panthers have now held 32 of their last 33 opponents to 45% or under shooting from the floor. Last season Pitt was one of two squads (South Carolina) to hold at least 29 opponents to 45% or less shooting.
The Panthers defense has now held three straight opponents to under 55 points to open the season for the first time since 2016-17.
So far this season, the Panthers rank second in the ACC in three-point field goal percentage defense (19%), fifth in scoring defense (46.7 ppg) and sixth in field goal percentage defense (31.5%).
The Panthers own a 21-9 record when they hold opponents to 59 points or less since Lance White took over the program in 2018-19.
The Pitt defense has been forcing turnovers at a high rate through three games as they have 34 total steals. It marks the most through three games by Pitt since 2015-16 (36).
Pitt is tied for third in the ACC in blocked shots with 18 so far this season. They had a season-high nine blocks in the win over Coppin State, marking the most in a season opener since joining the ACC in 2013-14.
The Panthers opened the season allowing just 41 points at Coppin State which marked the lowest total against in a season opener since 2015-16.

MALIYAH JOHNSON EXPLODES ON THE SCENE IN WIN OVER BRYANT

Sophomore guard Maliyah Johnson took a major step forward this offseason and it earned her a spot in the starting lineup to begin the season.
On Wednesday in the win over Bryant, Johnson exploded for a career-high 20 points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal in 20 minutes of work. She finished off her efficient game going 7-for-9 from the floor and 4-for-6 from behind the arc in the win.
The 20-point effort was a career-high and marked her first career game in double digits. The four three-pointers were also a career-high.
Johnson has started all three games for Pitt and is averaging 10.7 points and 5.7 rebounds while shooting 54.5% from the floor and 46.2% from behind the arc. She ranks fourth in the ACC in three-point field goal percentage and seventh in the ACC in field goal percentage.

NEXT UP

The Panthers will hit the road next week for the Elevance Health Women's Fort Myers Tip-Off Tournament in Fort Myers, FL.
Pitt will take on Towson, DePaul and Maryland at the Suncoast Credit Union Arena.

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Pitt Welcomes Duquesne Saturday Night For 40th Edition Of The City Game

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Dayshanette Harris

Maliyah Johnson

Pitt Welcomes Duquesne Saturday Night For 40th Edition Of The City Game

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Dayshanette Harris

Maliyah Johnson

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