Pitt
5-7,0-0ACC
Georgia
8-3,0-0SEC
Pitt Falls In Close Contest To Georgia, 65-59
12/20/2023 2:13:00 PM | Women's Basketball
TAMPA, FL – The Pitt women's basketball team (5-7, 0-0 ACC) battled hard but fell in the final game of the Sun Coast Challenge on Wednesday afternoon to the Georgia Bulldogs, 65-59.
Liatu King led the way for Pitt with 14 points, three rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks while Aislin Malcolm finished with 12 points and three rebounds while making four triples. Marley Washenitz had a nice game as she finished with 10 points, nine rebounds, five steals and three assists in the loss.
As a team, Pitt shot a season-low 29.9% from the floor while the Bulldogs shot 44.6% in the win. Pitt was out-rebounded 48-37 in the game while the Panthers forced Georgia into 23 turnovers and scored 20 points off those mishaps.
The Bulldogs took the early 7-0 lead as they opened the game with a triple followed by a layup and free throws. Pitt responded with a 12-3 run to take the 12-10 lead as Aislin Malcolm and Bella Perkins drained back-to-back triples. Georgia regained the lead with a pair of layups but Malcolm connected on a deep triple in the final 10 seconds to give Pitt the 15-14 lead through 10 minutes.
The Bulldogs got out quick with five straight points to open the quarter but the Panthers responded with nine straight to take the 24-19 lead as Marley Washenitz finished off a layup and free throw and Rapuluchi Ayodele grabbed an offensive rebound and layup. Georgia scored six straight to regain the lead, 25-24, but Perkins drained a triple and Washenitz made a free throw to give Pitt the 30-29 lead late in the quarter. The Bulldogs finished the half with a layup as they took the 31-30 lead into the locker room.
The Bulldogs opened the third quarter with six straight points to force a Pitt timeout but the Panthers responded nicely. Pitt went on an 8-3 run that was capped by a Malcolm triple to make it 40-38 midway through the quarter. The Bulldogs regained the 46-38 lead with six straight points but the Panthers closed the quarter on an 11-2 run as Ayodele scored five points down the stretch to send the game to the fourth with Pitt leading 49-48.
Georgia once again started the fourth quarter with six straight points to force Pitt into a timeout. Out of the timeout, Washenitz earned a steal and layup and Malcolm buried a corner triple to make it a three-point lead for the Bulldogs, 57-54. Pitt wasn't able to get any closer down the stretch as Georgia earned the 65-59 victory.
Game Notes
- Pitt falls to 0-2 all-time against Georgia, both coming on neutral sites.
- King led the Panthers with 14 points, three rebounds and three assists in the loss. She has scored in double figures in all 12 games this season.
- Washenitz had a career-high five steals in the loss.
Up Next
- Pitt returns to action after Christmas as they welcome Le Moyne to the Petersen Events Center on Thursday, Dec. 28 at 7:00 pm. The game against the Dolphins marks the final non-conference game of the season for Pitt.
