Pitt
1-3,0-0ACC
Duquesne
3-1,0-0Atlantic 10
Pitt Falls Short In City Game Against Duquesne, 56-55
11/18/2023 6:22:00 PM | Women's Basketball
PITTSBURGH – The Pitt women's basketball team (1-3, 0-0 ACC) lost to the Duquesne Dukes (3-1, 0-0 A10) 56-55 in the 41st edition of the City Game at Duquesne on Saturday afternoon. The Dukes escaped with the victory despite a late game push from Bella Perkins, who scored six points in the final 11 seconds.
Liatu King continued to lead the team offensively, netting 11 points, grabbing nine rebounds and dishing out four assists. Rapuluchi Ayodele continued her strong play as she grabbed 13 rebounds, eight offensive, while adding six points and two assists. Freshman Aaryn Battle looked strong in her first career start, notching eight points and three rebounds on 50% shooting.
The Panthers continue to dominate on the offensive glass as they grabbed 17 as a team while leading the rebounding battle 47-35 in the loss. As a team, Pitt shot 29.3% from the floor while the Dukes shot 30.6%. The Pitt bench stepped up offensively as they netted a season-best 25 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Panthers opened the contest playing tenacious defense, holding the Dukes to 4-for-16 shooting from the field. Adding offense for Pitt was Marley Washenitz, who fought through contact to make an acrobatic layup and the awarded free throw. Pitt rallied around this play, going on a 10-3 run late in the first quarter. King had three points and tallied two assists as the two teams went to the second quarter tied, 13-13.
Pitt continued to play stout defense in the second quarter, switching in and out of a full-court press that forced two Duquesne 10 second violations. Gabby Hutcherson provided instant offense off the bench for the Panthers, scoring seven points in the quarter off of three jump shots. With 3:41 left in the quarter, Aislin Malcolm grabbed her fourth rebound of the game, tying a career high. The Panthers ended the quarter on a 5-2 run, giving them a 27-23 lead at the half. The scoring leaders for Pitt at half were Hutcherson (seven), King (six), and Perkins (five).
The Panthers opened up the second half shooting 80% from the field with the help of two King jumpers. An Ayodele offensive rebound and "and-1" at the 6:54 mark in the quarter stretched the Panther lead to nine, their largest of the game. Pitt got to the free throw line early and often and capitalized shooting 7-for-9 from the charity stripe in the quarter. The Panthers ended the quarter leading with a four-point lead, 44-40.
The Dukes came out strong in the fourth quarter as they used a 13-1 run to take the 53-45 lead with just over three minutes to play. Pitt tried to battle back in the final three minutes as Perkins drilled a triple to make it 53-50 in favor of the Dukes and after a defensive stop, Jala Jordan finished off a layup with 11 seconds to play to make it 53-52. After the Dukes made one free throw, King was whistled for a very questionable travel call with three seconds to play and the Dukes made a pair of free throws to seal the home win.
GAME NOTES
- With the loss, Pitt is now 23-18 all-time against the Dukes
- Freshman Aaryn Battle started in her first collegiate game and took advantage, scoring eight points in the loss
- Gabby Hutcherson scored a season-high seven points off the bench
- Rapuluchi Ayodele grabbed eight offensive rebounds, tying her career high. Ayodele entered the game ranked second in the nation in offensive rebounds per game
- Ayodele totaled 13 rebounds and has now grabbed double figure rebounds in all four games for Pitt this season
UP NEXT
- The Panthers return home to play host to Coppin State on Tuesday, November 21. Tip-off is set for 11:00 am as it will be the Panthers' annual School Day Game at the Pete.
- Tuesday's game can be streamed on ACC Network Extra
