Pitt
12-17,4-12ACC
Clemson
13-14,6-10ACC
Strong First Half Lifts Pitt Past Clemson, 72-59
2/23/2025 4:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball
PITTSBURGH – Paced by graduate center Khadija Faye and junior guard Marley Washenitz, the Pitt women's basketball team downed Clemson, 72-59, Sunday evening at the Petersen Events Center.
With the victory, Pitt (12-17, 4-12 ACC) has now recorded its highest win total (12) since the 2016-17 campaign, while tying the second-most ACC wins (4) since joining the league.
As a team, the Panthers recorded shooting splits of 60 percent from the field, 53.8 percent from 3-point range and 81 percent from the free throw line.
Pitt's 60 percent shooting clip from the floor marked the best percentage Pitt has shot against an ACC opponent since joining the conference. Additionally, it marked Pitt's highest percentage in any game since shooting 60.7 percent from the field against Bryant on Nov. 16, 2022.
The Panthers controlled the boards, out rebounding Clemson (13-14, 6-10 ACC) by a 39-26 margin, while holding the Tigers to just 31.3 percent shooting on the defensive end.
Individually, Washenitz tied her career-high with 20 points – 17 of which coming in the second half. Faye continued her historic season, logging her ACC-leading 15th double-double of the year with 21 points and 10 rebounds.
Guards Brooklynn Miles and Mikayla Johnson combined for 23 points on 8-of-14 shooting, while senior forward MaKayla Elmore tallied eight points and eight boards against her former team.
Of note, Pitt edged Clemson despite committing 26 turnovers and recording zero bench points.
How It Happened
Faye got off to a great start, logging the Panthers' first six points as Pitt owned a 6-3 advantage 90 seconds into the contest. Clemson then went on a 9-4 spurt to take a two-point lead at 12-10. Faye closed the opening period with five unanswered, giving Pitt a 15-12 lead after 10 minutes of action. Individually, Faye recorded 11 points on 5-for-5 shooting from the floor in the first quarter.
Faye then opened the second frame with an and-one, but Clemson responded with a 10-3 spurt. The Panthers came alive defensively, holding the Tigers scoreless over the final 5:24 of the half – closing the second period on a 10-0 run. Pitt led, 31-19, at the halftime break behind Faye's 14 first half points.
The two teams traded field goals for the first five minutes of the third quarter as Pitt maintained its double-digit lead. After a Clemson jumper narrowed the Tigers' deficit to nine, the Panthers went on a 10-3 run behind six points from Washenitz to go up 16 with 34 seconds left in the third frame. Clemson closed the period with a triple, but Pitt took a 50-37 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Panthers and the Tigers exchanged baskets to start the final 10 minutes of action, before a Washenitz three sparked a 9-2 run – extending Pitt's lead to 19 (63-44) with just under five minutes remaining. Clemson then reeled off an 11-3 burst, narrowing its deficit to 11 with 90 seconds left. Pitt closed the game with stellar shooting from the charity stripe down the stretch to secure the 72-59 victory.
Game Notes
- Pitt's 12 wins this season is the most since the 2016-17 campaign.
- The Panthers' four ACC wins tie the second-most since joining the league.
- As a unit, Pitt shot 60 percent from the field.
- It marked the best percentage Pitt has shot against an ACC opponent since joining the conference.
- Washenitz tied her career-high with 20 points.
- She recorded 17 points in the second half.
- Faye notched her ACC-leading 15th double-double of the season.
- Elmore logged eight points and eight rebounds against her former team.
Up Next
The Panthers travel to face Syracuse on Thursday, Feb. 27. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m., and the game can be streamed via ACCNX.
