Pitt
6-9,0-2ACC
#16 Notre Dame
10-2,1-1ACC
King’s Massive Game Not Enough; Pitt Drops Nail-Biter to #16 Notre Dame
1/4/2024 9:53:00 PM | Women's Basketball
PITTSBURGH – Despite a sensational 34 point and 13 rebound performance by Liatu King, the Pitt women's basketball team (6-9, 0-2 ACC) fell at home to #16 Notre Dame Thursday night at the Petersen Events Center, 71-66.
The career-high 34 points for King on Thursday night marked the most by a Pitt player at the Petersen Events Center since Asia Logan netted 36 against William & Mary on Nov. 11, 2012. The 30-point effort marked her second of her career as she added 13 rebounds for her eighth double-double of the season, a new career-high. She finished the game going an efficient 13-for-18 from the floor and 8-for-11 from the free throw line while adding three blocks and two assists.
Freshmen Jasmine Timmerson also had a career-high in points, scoring eight in a career-high 31 minutes. Fellow freshman Aaryn Battle controlled the pace of the contest, scoring nine points on 50% shooting to go with five rebounds and a steal while being a +13 for the game off the bench.
"We're super proud of them," said Head Coach Tory Verdi when talking about his freshman backcourt tandem. "They want to win…and what they did gave us momentum tonight."
Pitt shot 47.1% from the field despite not recording a made shot from behind the arc. As a team, Pitt outrebounded the Fighting Irish 37-31, who entered the contest leading the ACC in rebounding.
The Fighting Irish opened the first quarter with 12 straight points as they drained a pair of triples before Pitt was able to get a jumper from King to stop the streak. King continued to provide offense in the frame, scoring over half of Pitt's first quarter points. At the end of the first, Notre Dameheld the 28-12 lead.
Pitt opened the second quarter on a 13-0 run, featuring three different Panthers scoring and a Rapuluchi Ayodele drawn charge. Notre Dame answered by scoring a quick eight points to extend their lead back to double digits. Pitt outscored Notre Dame 18-11 over the entire second quarter but trailed 39-30 at halftime. Leading the Panthers in scoring at half was King (15) and Ayodele (six).
In the third quarter, the Panthers tenacious defense forced Notre Dame into a 3:58 scoring drought that saw the Fighting Irish shoot 0-7 from the field. A Timmerson eurostep layup cut the Notre Dame lead to five at the media timeout. With 2:13 remaining in the quarter, King notched a free throw to tie the game at 41, marking a 10-0 run for the Panthers. Pitt held a 48-47 lead going into the final quarter.
After Battle opened the scoring in the fourth to give Pitt the three-point lead, 50-47, the Irish were able to regain the lead heading into the media timeout. After the Irish pushed the lead out to seven, 63-56, Timmerson hit a pull-up jumper to get Pitt back within three, 63-60, with just over four minutes to play but the Panthers didn't get any closer down the stretch as they fell 71-66.
Game Notes
- With the loss, Notre Dame is now 35-4 all-time against the Panthers including six straight wins
- King scored a career-high 34 points to go along with 13 rebounds in the loss. The 34 points are the most by a Pitt player at the Petersen Events Center since Asia Logan (36) against William & Mary on Nov. 11, 2012
- The 34-point, 13-rebound double-double for King marked her career-high eighth of the season. Her eight double-doubles through the first 15 games of the season are the most by a Pitt player since Chelsea Cole also had eight in 2010-11
- King has now scored 20+ points in eight of the first 15 games as she is the first Panther since Shavonte Zellous (12 in first 15 games) in 2008-09 to do so
- King is the only player in the nation this season to post a game with at least 34 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks. She is also the first ACC player in over 15 seasons to post at least 34 points, 13 rebounds, three blocks and two assists in a game
- Timmerson came off the bench and netted a career-high eight points in a career-high 31 minutes in the loss
- Ayodele posted her seventh game this season with at least 10 rebounds
- Pitt connected on a season-high 18 free throws in the loss
Up Next
- Pitt takes on Georgia Tech at the Petersen Events Center on Sunday, Jan. 7, marking the second of three straight home games.
- Tip-off is set for 2 PM and can be streamed on ACC Network
