Pitt
8-21,2-14ACC
#17 Syracuse
23-5,13-4ACC
Pitt Hangs Tough On The Road At #17 Syracuse; Falls 63-53
2/25/2024 4:20:00 PM | Women's Basketball
SYRACUSE, NY – The Pitt women's basketball team (8-21, 2-14 ACC) led for most of the afternoon but fell late to #17 Syracuse Sunday afternoon, 63-53. Liatu King led the way with 29 points and 10 rebounds in the loss.
King was unstoppable on Sunday as she netted her 11th 20-point game of the season while going 11-for-24 from the floor and 7-for-8 from the free throw line. She also added two assists and two steals in the loss. Off the bench, Bella Perkins netted 11 points and three rebounds on three made triples while Rapuluchi Ayodele finished her game with five points, 11 rebounds, four assists and three steals in 37 minutes.
As a team, Pitt shot 35.1% from the floor while the Orange shot just 32.8% in the win. The Orange held the 42-37 edge in rebounds while the Panthers held the 26-18 lead in scoring inside the paint in the loss.
How It Happened
The Panthers got out to a great start as King opened the scoring with a layup and free throw and Rapuluchi Ayodele scored five straight to give Pitt the early lead. Aaryn Battle sank a jumper to give Pitt the 12-6 lead at the first media timeout of the game. Out of the timeout, the Orange outscored Pitt 9-2 to take the 15-14 lead into the second quarter.
The Pitt defense had a great start to the second quarter as they held the Orange scoreless through the first five minutes. Offensively, Bella Perkins hit a mid-range jumper and a deep triple to give the Panthers the 19-15 lead at the media timeout. The Orange came right back and took the 23-22 lead late in the quarter after a deep triple by Georgia Woolley. Perkins close the quarter with back-to-back triples to give Pitt the 30-25 lead at halftime as she finished the first 20 minutes with 11 points on three made three-pointers.
Battle opened the third quarter with a fast break layup but the Orange were able to get back within two, 36-34, as Fair drained a jumper. King took over the game late in the quarter as she scored nine points across the final four minutes including a layup and free throw as the Panthers took the 49-41 lead into the final quarter.
The Orange opened the final quarter with the first five points before King drained a jumper to make it 51-47 in favor of the Panthers. Pitt finished the final quarter cold as the Orange gained the 63-53 home victory as they closed the game on a 16-2 run.
Game Notes
- King finished with a team-high 29 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and two steals in 38 minutes of work. She has now led the Panthers in scoring 20 times this season while notching 11 games with 20+ points
- The 29-point and 10-rebound game gives King 16 double-doubles on the season, the most by a Pitt player since Chelsea Cole (16) in 2010-11
- King has also netted at least 15 points in 23 games so far this season
- Perkins finished the game with 11 points, her 10th game this season scoring in double figures
- Ayodele grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds in the loss which gives her eight games this season with 10+ boards
- Ayodele also had a career-high four assists and three steals in the loss
What's Next
- The Panthers stay on the road Thursday, February 29 as they travel south to battle the Miami Hurricanes
- Tip-off is set for 7 PM and the road matchup can be streamed on ACC Network Extra
