Pitt
2-1,0-0ACC
West Virginia
3-0,0-0Big 12
Pitt Falls to No. 15 West Virginia in 48th Backyard Brawl
11/12/2024 10:12:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MORGANTOWN, W. Va. – The Pitt women's basketball team (2-1) fell to No. 15 West Virginia (3-0) in the 48thedition of the women's basketball Backyard Brawl in the WVU Coliseum on Tuesday night despite a 14-point and 12-rebound performance from transfer center Khadija Faye.
Offensively, sophomore forward Lauren Rust scored a career-high 12 points on 4-for-7 shooting and the Panthers scored 26 points in the paint. Pitt shot 32.8 percent (19-of-58) from the field and 22.7 percent (5-of-22) from behind the arc.
Pitt outrebounded West Virginia 38-35, which the Panthers converted into 18 second-chance points. Faye snagged eight offensive rebounds before fouling out with 8:20 remaining in the game. Pitt's perimeter defenders held West Virginia to just 20 percent (6-of-30) shooting on three-point field goals.
West Virginia, who leads the nation in forced turnovers per game (38), forced 30 Pitt turnovers. The Mountaineers shot 81.5 percent (22-of-27) from the free-throw line and 39.7 percent (27-of-68) from the field.
How It Happened
Sparked by Rust's first career three-pointer off a Brooklynn Miles assist, Pitt opened the contest with an early 5-3 lead. Pitt's defense forced six West Virginia turnovers in the frame, but the Panthers shot 27 percent (4-for-15) from the field and 10 percent (1-for-10) from behind the arc to trail 12-9 after the first quarter.
West Virginia opened the second quarter on a 9-2 run, before a Faye put-back bucket sparked a Panther 4-point spurt. Pitt's inside game was on display in the quarter, as the Panthers scored eight points in the paint. Faye led the Panthers at halftime, netting nine points on 4-of-5 shooting and grabbing eight rebounds. The Panthers were outscored 23-16 in the quarter and trailed 35-25 at half.
Pitt's stout defense held the Mountaineers to 1-for-10 shooting from the field over a 5:18 stretch in the third quarter. MaKayla Elmore notched five in the third, including a top-of-the-arc three-pointer following a forced turnover to give Pitt momentum, but the Panthers trailed 56-41 entering the fourth quarter. Mikayla Johnson and Rust led the Panthers in the fourth quarter, each scoring five in the frame, but Pitt was outscored 26-13 in the final period.
Game Notes
- Lauren Rust scored her first career three-pointer at the 7:22 mark of the first quarter.
- Rust also set a new career high in scoring with 12 points.
- Khadija Faye notched her second double-double of the season, which is tied for second-most in the nation.
- Mikayla Johnson and MaKayla Elmore both netted nine points off the bench.
Up Next
Pitt travels to Binghamton to face the Bearcats (2-1) on Sunday, Nov. 17. Tipoff is set for 1:30 p.m. and the game can be streamed on ESPN+.
