No. 15 Seed Pitt Primed for 2025 Ally ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament

PITTSBURGH – Seeking its first ACC Tournament win since March 4, 2020, the 15th-seeded Pitt women's basketball team will face No. 10 seed Virginia Wednesday evening in the first round of the 2025 Ally ACC Women's Basketball Tournament at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C.

Tipoff is slated for 3:30 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on ACC Network.

Need to Know - Game 32
No. 15 Pitt (13-18, 5-13 ACC) vs. No. 10 Virginia (16-14, 8-10 ACC)
Wednesday, March 5, 2025 – 3:30 p.m.
Greensboro, N.C. – First Horizon Coliseum

The Opening Tip
Cardiac Cats
The Panthers punched their ticket to the 2025 Ally ACC Women's Basketball Tournament on the final day of the regular season. Pitt downed Wake Forest, and hours later Miami dropped its finale to Cal, securing the Panthers' bid.

Historic Season Thus Far
In the second year under head coach Tory Verdi, Pitt recorded its highest win total (13) since the 2016-17 campaign and the second-most ACC wins (5) since joining the league.

Playing Well at the Right Time
The Panthers reached the 47th annual tournament after posting a 4-4 ledger over the final eight games of the season. Of note, Pitt opened ACC play 1-9.

Faye's Historic Season
One of the premier post players in the conference, graduate center Khadija Faye compiled 16 double-doubles in the regular season. Faye is currently in the midst of a seven-game streak scoring 20+ points. Notably, in ACC play, Faye's numbers increased, as she averaged 20.7 points and 10.1 rebounds against league foes. In the regular season finale against Wake Forest, Faye recorded a career-high 31 points, while adding nine rebounds and six blocks.

"Development U"
Khadija Faye, Mikayla Johnson, MaKayla Elmore and Marley Washenitz have all increased their numbers in several categories compared to last season.

Faye: +13.7 ppg, +6.7 rpg, +1.1 apg, +1.7 bpg, 0.5 spg
Johnson: +9.4 ppg, +3.4 rpg, +1.0 apg, +0.4 spg, +0.4 bpg
Washenitz: +5.2 ppg, +1.0 mpg, +9.6 FG%, +23.5 3FG%
Elmore: +2.7 ppg, +1.6 rpg, +0.4 apg, +0.2 bpg

Series History

Wednesday will mark the 15th all-time meeting between Pitt and Virginia, as the series is currently tied, 7-7.
The Panthers most recently suffered an 80-67 loss to the Cavaliers on Feb. 16, 2025.

Scouting the Cavaliers

Virginia earned the No. 10 seed after compiling a 16-14 ledger, including an 8-10 mark in ACC play.
- The Cavaliers have won three-straight, including a 78-75 win over then-No. 8 North Carolina in the regular season finale.
Virginia ranks 12th in the ACC in scoring at 70.7 PPG, led by star guard Kymora Johnson - who averages 18.0 points per contest.
- Johnson recorded a triple-double the last time the two teams met with 20 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists.
Forward Latasha Lattimore averages 14.8 PPG and 8.3 RPG.
- Lattimore netted 30 points in the first meeting between Pitt and Virginia this season.

Last Time Out - at Wake Forest
Khadija Faye tallied 31 points and nine rebounds as Pitt knocked off Wake Forest, 79-63, Sunday afternoon at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem, N.C.

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.

Up Next
The winner of Wednesday's contest will advance to face No. 7 seed Cal on Thursday, March 6. Tipoff is slated for 5 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on ACC Network.