Pitt women’s basketball (8-23, 2-16 ACC) closed out regular season play on Sunday afternoon at the Petersen’s Events Center against ACC foe Boston College (13-18, 5-13 ACC). But the Panthers couldn’t finish out the regular season on a high note, as they fell to the Eagles 84-58.
The Panthers fought hard in the second quarter and made it a four-point game, but their turnovers and foul trouble ultimately led to the loss.
Despite the tough loss, head coach Tory Verdi knows what his team is capable of in the future.
“I know we can win,” Verdi said. “It’s just a matter of time. We will continue to learn, and we will continue to get better.”
Pitt totaled 28 turnovers and 19 personal fouls for the game. The Panthers’ turnovers allowed the Eagles to score 30 points. Despite not playing in the final quarter, senior forward Liatu King finished out conference play with her 18th double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Boston College took the lead early in the first quarter. However, after several offensive drives from King, Pitt came back halfway through the first to tie it up 10-10. The senior scored six points and eight rebounds.
The first quarter went back and forth, but ultimately, Pitt’s turnovers made it unravel. The Eagles took a comfortable lead in the last two minutes of the first. Boston College gained nine points off of Pitt’s turnovers. As a result, the Panthers lost the first quarter 22-13.
With a minute left in the first, Pitt sophomore guard Marley Washenitz tried to draw an Eagle charge. But she went down, clutching her leg. Athletic trainers helped Washenitz walk off the court, and she did not return for the remainder of the game.
The Panthers let their competition build a sizable lead in the first half of the second quarter thanks to turnovers and foul trouble. Pitt committed four fouls in the first four minutes of the second quarter and tallied 17 turnovers in the first half. King picked up her third foul in the second quarter as well.
Halfway through the second, the Panthers started to chip away at the Eagles’ advantage. Pitt junior guard Bella Perkins started Pitt’s comeback attempt by sinking a deep three. Sophomore guard Aislin Malcolm also sank a three-pointer to make it a 32-23 game. To finish the run, senior forward Gabby Hutcherson made a jumper in the paint. Perkins then made it a four-point game after another deep three-pointer.
The Panthers won the second quarter but went into the third down 36-30.
Pitt fell back into its bad habits to start the third. Pitt had five turnovers in the third and the team struggled to make baskets. Within the first three minutes of play, the Panthers fell behind 50-34.
After her 12th point of the game, King picked up her fourth foul, forcing Verdi to take her out of the game. Her substitution, junior forward Rapuluchi Ayodele, committed a foul immediately after. Ayodele had three fouls in the quarter.
Pitt’s foul trouble led to frequent substitutions, and the Panthers struggled to find momentum on offense. The Eagles took advantage of Pitt’s stagnant offense and went into the final quarter leading 69-46.
The final quarter started with more personal fouls. Ayodele picked up her fourth foul, and King picked up her disqualifying fifth. The Panthers couldn’t find their rhythm after that, and the Eagles gained a comfortable lead. Pitt lost 85-58.
Perkins finished the regular season off strong in the final quarter. Halfway through the fourth, she earned her 10th point of the game with a jumper in the paint. Perkins went two-for-seven in three-pointers and had four rebounds for the day.
The Panthers move on to the ACC tournament this Wednesday in Greensboro, North Carolina, facing Georgia Tech in the first round at 3:30 p.m.