Pitt
5-1,0-0ACC
Robert Morris
2-3,0-0Horizon
Faye Paces Pitt in 64-51 Win Over Crosstown Rival Robert Morris
11/23/2024 4:20:00 PM | Women's Basketball
PITTSBURGH – Behind a 25-point and 15-rebound performance from Khadija Faye, the Pitt women's basketball team (5-1) defeated crosstown rival Robert Morris (2-3), 64-51. Faye also recorded a career-high five blocks and made a career-high nine field goals.
Pitt, who led for over 32 minutes of game time, laced seven 3-pointers in the contest. Bella Perkins and MaKayla Elmore both shot 66 percent (2-for-3) from behind the arc. The Panthers shot 38.1 percent (24-for-63) from the field and 75 percent (9-for-12) from the free-throw line.
Pitt held RMU to just 32.8 percent (19-for-58) shooting from the field, the Colonials' lowest percentage this season. Pitt also held Robert Morris to a season-low 12 made 2-point shots. The Panthers grabbed a season-high 47 rebounds to Robert Morris' 31, led by Faye's 15 (six offensive) and Elmore's eight. Aislin Malcolm added help on the boards, securing a career-high seven.
Off the bench, sophomore guard Aaryn Battle scored five points to go with six rebounds and three assists. Pitt's bench entered the contest ranked ninth in the ACC with 25.6 points per game.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Pitt and Robert Morris traded offensive shots early, including a Panthers 5-for-6 shooting stretch. The Colonials responded by opening the contest shooting 45 percent (5-for-11) from the field and led at the first media timeout, 11-10.
Following the break, Pitt's press defense blitzed Robert Morris and held the Colonials to a 5:50 scoring drought. Pitt retook the lead in the final minute of the first quarter, 12-11, following a Marley Washenitz all-nylon jump shot.
Perkins started the second quarter hot with a 3-pointer opened up by a double screen to extend the Pitt lead to five (17-12). In a sluggish second quarter, Pitt scored eight points on seven forced RMU turnovers to carry a 27-20 lead into halftime.
Pitt capitalized on a 9-2 run in the third quarter to extend its lead to seven (36-29) at the media timeout. Battle buried a 3-pointer off of an RMU turnover and Faye assist to break up a 2:19 Pitt scoring drought late in the quarter. Faye worked inside, grabbing eight rebounds in the frame. The Panthers led 45-34 entering the fourth quarter.
The Panthers caught fire from the field late in the contest, connecting on 50 percent (7-of-14) of their shots in the fourth quarter. Pitt outscored the Colonials 19-17 in the final 10 minutes with five different Panthers scoring.
GAME NOTES
- Khadija Faye earned her fourth double-double of the season (points, rebounds). She is tied for the third-most double-doubles in the nation.
- The Panthers blocked a season-high eight shots - their most since they blocked 12 against Georgia Tech on Jan. 7, 2024.
- Pitt held RMU to 32.8 percent (19-for-58) shooting from the field, the Colonials' lowest percentage so far this season.
- Aislin Malcolm grabbed a career-high seven rebounds.
- Pitt's 47 rebounds marks a new season-high.
- Pitt has outrebounded its opponents in 5-of-6 games this season.
WHAT'S NEXT
Pitt travels to the U.S. Virgin Islands to compete in the Paradise Jam, where it last appeared in 2021. The Panthers will face Kansas to open the tournament on Thursday, Nov. 28. Tipoff is set for 12:30 p.m. ET and the game can be streamed on ESPN+. The Pitt women's basketball team was Runner-Up in the Paradise Jam in 2016.
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