Pitt
8-19,2-12ACC
Clemson
11-15,4-10ACC
Panthers Notch Convincing Road Win At Clemson Sunday, 72-57
2/18/2024 2:34:00 PM | Women's Basketball
CLEMSON, SC – Behind 16 points off the bench from junior Bella Perkins, the Pitt women's basketball team (8-19, 2-12 ACC) collected their second ACC road win of the season Sunday afternoon as they knocked off Clemson, 72-57. The Panthers now have two ACC road wins for the first time since the 2015-16 season.
Liatu King led Pitt in scoring as she netted 17 points, seven rebounds three steals and two assists while going 7-for-14 from the floor. Perkins came off the bench and finished with 16 points and three rebounds while connecting on four triples. Aislin Malcolm had a solid game as she netted 13 points, two assists and two steals while going 5-for-9 from the floor.
As a team, Pitt shot 47.2% from the floor while they held the Tigers to just 39.3% shooting. The Panthers forced Clemson into 21 turnovers and they turned those chances into 30 points off turnovers in the win. The Pitt bench also outscored the Tigers 24-2 in the win.
The Panthers got out to a good start as Aaryn Battle and King recorded back-to-back buckets to give Pitt the 4-0 lead. Aislin Malcolm and Battle each knocked down triples over the next two minutes to push the Pitt lead out to 10-3 early on. The Tigers responded with a 17-4 run over the final four minutes of the quarter to take the 20-14 lead into the second quarter.
After the Tigers pushed the lead out to six, 26-20, Pitt responded with an 8-0 run as Marley Washenitz hit a jumper and Perkins capped the run with a corner jumper to regain the lead. The Panthers finished the quarter on a 6-0 run as King hit a jumper and Perkins drained a straight away triple to give Pitt the 35-28 lead at halftime.
King and Malcolm got the Panthers going in the third as they each scored four points in the first couple minutes to give Pitt the 46-35 lead at the media timeout in the third. The Tigers cut their deficit to nine, 46-37, but the Panthers closed the quarter on a 6-2 run as Gabby Hutcherson finished off a layup on the final possession of the quarter to make it 52-39 in favor of Pitt.
The Tigers opened the fourth with seven straight to make it 52-46 in favor of the Panthers and Coach Verdi took a timeout to stall the momentum. The timeout worked as the Panthers came out and went on a 9-3 run as Perkins drilled a triple and a mid-range jumper to give Pitt the 61-49 lead midway through the final frame. Another Perkins triple gave Pitt the 13-point lead and the Panthers made their free throws down the stretch to secure the 72-57 road victory.
Game Notes
- With the win, the series against the Tigers is now tied, 10-10. Pitt improves to 5-4 in games played in Clemson including winning five of the last six in Littlejohn Coliseum
- King capped her afternoon with 17 points, seven rebounds, three steals and two assists. She has now scored in double figures in 25 of 27 games and netted 15+ points in 21 games
- Perkins finished with 16 points and three rebounds for her ninth game in double figures including in two straight
- Malcolm finished with 13 points on 5-for-9 shooting as she now has 11 games in double digits on the year
What's Next
- Pitt returns home Thursday, Feb. 22 as they welcome Wake Forest to the Petersen Events Center for a 7:00 pm tip.
