Pitt
6-13,0-6ACC
Syracuse
16-2,6-1ACC
King Continues to Shine; Panthers Fall to Syracuse, 72-59
1/21/2024 5:36:00 PM | Women's Basketball
PITTSBURGH – The Pitt women's basketball team (6-13, 0-6 ACC) dropped a tough contest to the Syracuse Orange 72-59 Sunday afternoon at the Petersen Events Center. Despite the loss, Liatu King made her presence felt, scoring 27 points on 12-for-19 shooting and grabbing 10 rebounds for her 10th double-double of the season, the second most in the ACC.
Jala Jordan had another strong game off the bench for Pitt as she netted 15 points and five rebounds on 6-for-11 shooting across 28 minutes of work. Bella Perkins netted 10 points and three assists in 28 minutes of action off the Pitt bench while Marley Washenitz finished off her game with nine rebounds and a team-high six assists in the loss.
Pitt controlled the paint, outscoring Syracuse 40-22 in that area with help from Jordan and King. Pitt finished the game shooting 42.1% from the field and just 14.3% from behind the arc. The Panthers tied the Orange in rebounding at 38 but led in total defensive rebounds. Defensively, King led the way with a pair of steals and blocks. Pitt's team defense held Syracuse guard Dyaisha Fair, a 38.6% three-point shooter who has the third-most made three-pointers in the nation this season, under her average three-point percentage.
The Panthers raced out to an early first quarter lead, with their first five points coming from King. Perkins splashed a transition three-pointer to give Pitt a 17-10 lead, its largest lead in an ACC contest this season. The Panthers dominated the paint in the first frame, scoring 10 and grabbing 11 rebounds.
Pitt allowed a 12-0 run in the second quarter to surrender its early lead, as the Orange led 24-22 at the media timeout. Shooting woes hurt the Panthers in the frame, as they shot 5-for-19 from the field as they entered halftime trailing the Orange 35-28.
Jordan ended a 6-0 Syracuse run to open the third quarter with two free-throws and the Panthers rallied around her, drawing two charges to swing the momentum of the contest. Perkins hit a transition layup off of a dime from Washenitz to cut the orange lead to five. Pitt hit five of six shots to end the quarter, but trailed Syracuse 53-45 heading into the final 10 minutes.
King opened the fourth with a smooth turnaround jumper over two orange defenders. Following the shot, Pitt went on a 3:12 scoring drought over which Syracuse went on an 11-0 run to extend its lead. Perkins, King, and Jordan all scored in the fourth but the Pitt comeback effort fell short, falling 72-59 in front of the home fans.
Games Notes
- With the loss, Pitt falls to 19-52 all-time against the Orange
- King's 27 points marked her ninth time scoring 20+ points in a game this season and 12th time in her career
- She finished the game with 27 points and 10 rebounds which marked her 10th double-double of the season. She ranks second in the ACC this season in double-doubles
- Jordan finished her game with 15 points off the bench which marked her third straight game in double figures and seventh game this season
- Washenitz finished with a team-high six assists, her fifth game this season with at least six assists
Next Up
- Pitt travels to Charlottesville, Virginia to face off with the Virginia Cavaliers on Thursday, Jan. 25
- Tip-off is set for 7 PM and the game can be streamed on ACC Network Extra
