Pitt
13-18,5-13ACC
Wake Forest
9-20,2-16ACC
Pitt Closes 2024-25 Regular Season With 79-63 Road Win Over Wake Forest
3/2/2025 5:16:00 PM | Women's Basketball
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Graduate center Khadija Faye tallied 31 points and nine rebounds as the Pitt women's basketball team knocked off Wake Forest, 79-63, Sunday afternoon at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem, N.C.
With a Miami loss to Cal later this evening, Pitt (13-18, 5-13 ACC) would clinch a spot in the 2025 Ally ACC Women's Basketball Tournament.
Sunday's victory marked the Panthers' fifth ACC win of the season – the second-most since joining the conference. Additionally, Pitt's 13 total wins are the most since the 2016-17 campaign.
Faye, a native of Dakar, Senegal, led the Panthers with 31 points – recording her seventh-straight game scoring 20 or more. She also anchored Pitt defensively, logging a game-high six blocks.
Johnson continued her double-digit scoring streak with her sixth in as many games. She tallied 19 points on 5-for-9 shooting from deep, to go along with eight boards. Of note, Johnson is shooting 18-for-34 (52.9 percent) from 3-point range over the last five games.
As a team, Pitt shot 52.9 percent from the field – shooting 50 percent or higher in each quarter. Defensively, the Panthers held Wake Forest (9-20, 2-16 ACC) to 34.9 percent shooting from the field and 27.3 percent from beyond the arc, while forcing 21 turnovers.
Junior guard Marley Washenitz had another well-rounded performance – notching 12 points, five assists and four steals.
How It Happened
The two teams traded baskets to start, as the contest was tied at four at the 5:44 mark. Johnson then drilled a triple from the left wing – which sparked a 14-0 Pitt run. Of note, Johnson recorded six points during the Panthers' spurt. Wake Forest climbed back into the contest with an ensuing 9-0 run to close the period, but Pitt led (18-13) after 10 minutes of action.
The Panthers scored eight unanswered to open the second quarter behind scoring from Washenitz, Johnson and Faye. Wake Forest then went on a quick 7-3 burst to pull within nine. The two sides exchanged field goals for the remainder of the half, as Pitt led 37-29 at the halftime break.
The Panthers were paced by Faye in the first half – who logged 16 points and six boards. Johnson also had a solid opening 20 minutes of play, recording nine points and five rebounds on 3-of-6 shooting from deep.
After a Wake Forest layup opened the second half scoring, Pitt went on a 6-0 run behind dominant play down low from Faye. The Demon Deacons knocked down a free throw, but Johnson immediately responded with a corner three. Johnson's triple sparked a 14-7 Panther burst to close the third quarter. Pitt took a 60-39 lead into the fourth period.
The Panthers scored on back-to-back possessions to open the final frame, as their lead ballooned to 25 at the 8:43 mark. The two teams traded field goals for the ensuing four minutes of action, but Wake Forest scored seven unanswered to pull within 17 down the stretch. Pitt withstood the Demon Deacons' run and held on for the 79-63 victory.
Game Notes
- Pitt recorded its fifth ACC win of the season – the second-most since joining the conference.
- Pitt's 13 total wins are the most since the 2016-17 campaign.
- Faye recorded her seventh-straight game scoring 20 or more points.
- Johnson is now shooting 18-for-34 (52.9 percent) from 3-point range over the last five games.
Up Next
With a Miami loss to Cal later this evening, Pitt would clinch a spot in the 2025 Ally ACC Women's Basketball Tournament.
