Pitt
6-10,0-3ACC
Georgia Tech
11-4,2-1ACC
Second Half Comeback Effort Falls Short; Pitt Knocked Off By Georgia Tech, 68-58
1/7/2024 5:38:00 PM | Women's Basketball
PITTSBURGH – The Pitt women's basketball team (6-10, 0-3 ACC) dropped their third straight ACC game to open the season as the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets secured the 68-58 road win Sunday afternoon at the Petersen Events Center. Liatu King continued to shine, scoring 15 points and grabbing 14 rebounds to go with a career-high six blocks in the loss.
Aislin Malcolm scored 19 points on 50% shooting and tied a career-high with five three-pointers. As an offense, the Panthers shot 37.5% from beyond the arc with Malcolm, Bella Perkins, and Jasmine Timmerson being the main contributors. Perkins finished off her game with 13 points off the bench while draining three triples.
For the game, Pitt shot just 35% from the floor while the Yellow Jackets shot 39.3%. The Panthers also lost the rebounding battle 39-38 and the scoring in the paint battle, 24-22. Pitt had 17 turnovers which the Yellow Jackets turned into 12 points while Pitt took 14 Georgia Tech turnovers and scored 13 points.
Malcolm opened up scoring for the Panthers with a deep three-pointer, but Pitt trailed for the entire duration of the first quarter. The Yellow Jackets went on the 9-0 run late in the quarter that was ended by a Perkins corner three-pointer. Pitt trailed Georgia Tech 19-10 heading into the second quarter.
A scorching hot Panthers offense opened up with six quick points to begin the quarter coming from Malcolm and Timmerson three-point shots. The Yellow Jackets responded by going on a 9-0 run that saw them shoot 5-6 from the field. During that stretch, Pitt shot 1-11 from the field and went on a 5:06 scoring drought. The Yellow Jackets held a 35-24 lead at halftime. Leading the Panthers in scoring was Perkins (eight), Malcolm (six), and King (five).
The Panthers shook off a sluggish start to the third quarter by hitting four big shots following the media timeout. King, Malcolm, and Perkins all contributed to the scoring barrage. Pitt's defense forced Georgia Tech into a 2:28 scoring drought in which the Yellow Jackets shot 0-4 and committed three turnovers. With 34 seconds left in the frame, Malcolm splashed a shot from behind the arc to tie her career high in made three-pointers (five). Pitt trailed Georgia Tech 53-45 following the third quarter.
With 8:33 left in the fourth quarter, King grabbed her 10th rebound of the contest to earn her ninth double-double of the season. With 5:43 left in the quarter, King rejected her fifth shot of the game, giving her a new career-high in blocks. In the ensuing possession, she blocked her sixth shot of the game to extend her new record. Despite four points, five rebounds, and three blocks in the quarter by King, the Panther's comeback effort fell short as they fell 68-58 at home to Georgia Tech.
Game Notes
- With the loss, Pitt's all-time record against Georgia Tech moves to 4-9
- King reached double digit scoring for the 16th time this season (16 games)
- King secured her ninth double-double of the season
- King reached a new career-high in blocks with six in the loss
- Malcolm tied a career-high with five three-pointers
Up Next
- Pitt plays host to the #17 Louisville Cardinals on Thursday, January 11 at 6:00 pm. Thursday's game can be streamed on the ACC Network.
