King Claims First Career ACC Player of the Week Honor
12/4/2023 4:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
CHARLOTTE, NC – For the first time in her standout Pitt career, senior forward Liatu King was tabbed ACC Player of the Week, as announced by the conference office Monday afternoon. King had a huge week for the Panthers as they won a pair of non-conference games.
The Washington, DC native becomes just the second Panther in program history to earn the weekly recognition by the ACC joining Brianna Kiesel who earned the recognition twice during her outstanding Pitt career. Kiesel last earned the honor on Dec. 29, 2014.
Tu had herself a WEEK ?? ??
— Pitt Basketball (@Pitt_WBB) December 4, 2023
? First career ACC POTW honor
? Second Panther in program history to earn ACC POTW honor (Brianna Kiesel x2)
?? https://t.co/XCdbkxCRmu#H2P // #BeDifferent pic.twitter.com/6Mu0AFJRCu
King had a monster week for the Panthers as she helped lead Pitt to a 2-0 record with victories over Saint Francis and Binghamton. Across the two wins, King averaged an ACC leading 25.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.5 steals and 2.5 assists while shooting 65.5% (19-for-29) from the floor. In the win over Saint Francis Wednesday, King netted a game-high 23 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals on 9-for-14 shooting. In Sunday's win over Binghamton, she netted a game-high 27 points, 10 rebounds, four steals and two assists on 10-for-15 shooting.
The Panthers' leading scorer has been on a tear of late as she has netted 21+ points in five straight games for the first time in her Pitt career. She is the first Panther to accomplish the feat since Shavonte Zellous in 2009.
For the season, King holds averages of 21.3 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.1 steals, 1.8 assists and 1.8 blocks while shooting 55.8% from the floor and 77.6% from the free throw line. She currently ranks second in the ACC in rebounding (11.2 rpg) and field goal percentage (55.8%) while ranking third in scoring (21.3 ppg). She is the only player in the nation averaging at least 21.0 points, 11.0 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game so far this season.
King also ranks inside the top-10 nationally in multiple categories including ranking first in double-doubles (six), third in field goals made (77), fifth in total rebounds (101) and sixth in total points (192).
The Panthers and King return to action this Sunday, Dec. 10 as they welcome Lehigh to the Petersen Events Center for a 2:00 pm game on ACC Network Extra.
ACC Player of the Week History
- Liatu King – Dec. 4, 2023
- Brianna Kiesel – Dec. 29, 2014
- Brianna Kiesel – Jan. 6, 2014
