Pitt women’s basketball (10-16, 2-9 ACC) dominated Boston College (13-12, 4-8 ACC) 79-66 on Thursday night. The victory marked Pitt’s second in the ACC this season, matching last season’s total.
After Pitt’s historic comeback against SMU, the program appeared to turn a corner. But the win appeared closer to a blip on the radar than a sign of things to come.
The Panthers entered a tailspin after its first ACC win of the season, losing five straight games. To make matters worse, injuries and transfers increasingly plague Pitt women’s basketball, as only eight players remain available. Tonight, the Panthers needed to find a spark, as they were desperate to turn around their season.
And a spark they found, as the Panthers ignited in a show of offensive firepower. They shot lights out from behind the arc, making eight of their first 10. Their defense equally impressed, holding the Eagles to 31% from the field and 20% from three-point range.
Graduate student forward Khadija Faye, Pitt’s undoubted star of the season, shined once again. Faye recorded her 10th double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Faye’s electric performances have gained national recognition, as she leads the ACC in blocks. Recently, she was named to the Women’s College All-Star Game watch list, placing her in the top 60 players in the nation.
Across the board, the Pitt women’s basketball team received solid contributions, as five Panthers scored into the double digits in one of their most well-balanced performances of the season. Senior forward Makayla Elmore added a crucial double-double of her own, recording 12 points and 13 rebounds.
In the first half especially, the team oozed confidence and undeniable swagger. No observer might guess this team ranked near the bottom in most significant statistical categories.
Despite a valiant comeback attempt from Boston College, the Panthers ultimately locked down the Eagles, securing a much-needed win.
From the jump, Pitt appeared unrecognizable, taking an 11-4 lead to start the game and forcing a Boston college time-out. Following the time-out, the opportunistic Panthers’ defense forced three straight Boston College turnovers in five minutes.
The Panthers’ hot start continued, as they quickly pressed the lead to 22-6 after threes from Senior guard Brooklynn Miles and Elmore. The Pitt defense remained relentless as the Eagles’ offense appeared dazed and in a disjointed panic.
In the most impressive quarter of head coach Tory Verdi’s tenure, the Panthers took a commanding 33-10 lead over Boston College. With an essentially perfect quarter, Pitt forced eight turnovers and drew eight fouls.
Every Panther that touched the court scored a bucket. The heart and soul of the team, Faye, recorded 11 points in ten minutes, while the Panthers shot a remarkable 11-4 from the field. On the opposite end, the Eagles shot 1-12 and 0-6 from three.
Verdi could not have dreamed of a better start as he celebrated with an emphatic fist bump after Faye drew a charge.
In the second, Boston College kept pace, outscoring Pitt by one. However, due to the Panthers’ huge first quarter, they held a 50-28 lead going into the half — a deficit that appeared insurmountable for BC.
During the third quarter, the Panthers’ hot hands cooled off, and Boston College hung around. Pitt still held a respectable 12-point lead after three, but after the Panthers had a lead of 23 earlier in the match, a sense of uneasiness crept into the atmosphere. With a buzzer-beater layup by senior guard Andrea Daley, the Eagles appeared to control the game’s momentum.
A reeling Panther squad shot an abysmal 3-19 from the field and 1-8 from three in the third. A once scorching-hot team went ice-cold. Conversely, the Eagles made 8-21 field goals, sneaking back into the match.
The fourth quarter featured a scrappy, back-and-forth defensive battle as the teams combined to force ten turnovers. Both squads struggled to gain any offensive rhythm, averaging 32% from the field. Every other rebound featured players on the floor, giving it all for the win.
Through clutch Faye rebounds and one last dagger from Marchenwintz — Pitt secured the victory. As the final buzzer sounded, the passionate home crowd erupted as the team’s hard work finally translated to the court.
Catch Pitt women’s basketball next as they hit the road, looking for a season sweep against SMU on Sunday at 3 p.m. on the ACCNX.