University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt
8-15,1-9ACC
Virginia Tech
17-5,7-3ACC
Fourth Quarter Run Lifts Virginia Tech Past Pitt, 67-50
1/29/2026 8:21:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BLACKSBURG, Va. – Virginia Tech closed the contest on a 12-0 run to lift the Hokies over the Panthers, 67-50, in a hard-fought battle Thursday evening at Cassell Coliseum.
Mikayla Johnson paved the way for the Panthers, scoring a game-high 21 points on an 8-of-14 shooting effort, while adding six rebounds and two assists. Johnson went 4-for-5 from the field in the third quarter, while Virginia Tech was held to just four made field goals as a team. The redshirt-junior also went a perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line.
Fatima Diakhate added nine rebounds, four points and four assists in the effort, while Lauren Rust provided a strong presence on the glass with eight rebounds.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Panthers were led by Johnson with five points and Theresa Hagans Jr. with four after the first quarter. A strong second frame from Johnson gave her 12 points at the half, as the Panthers trailed by single digits heading into the break, 33-25.
In the third quarter, the Hokies pushed the margin to double digits midway through the period, but Pitt answered with a quick seven points from Johnson and a jump shot from Rust to cut the deficit to four.
Virginia Tech opened the fourth quarter with four straight points to rebuild a double-digit lead, but Pitt once again responded as a layup from Megan Hollingsworth and a made triple from Carla Viegas trimmed the gap. Despite the Panthers' continued push, the Hokies closed the game on a 12-0 run to seal the contest.
GAME NOTES
- Pitt finished the night with a 26-24 edge on defensive boards.
- The Panthers held Virginia Tech to 36.2 percent shooting from the field, including 3-of-16 from beyond the arc.
UP NEXT
The Panthers return to Pittsburgh for a three game homestand starting Thursday, Feb. 5 when Stanford enters the Petersen Events Center for a 6 p.m. tipoff.
