Pitt women’s basketball survived a far closer matchup than expected on Tuesday night, escaping with a 56-54 win over Cornell at the Petersen Events Center.
Even with an 11-point lead in the third quarter, the Panthers struggled to finish the game, scoring only nine points in the final quarter, barely holding onto the advantage. The Panthers exposed a couple of concerns that could become larger issues as the season progresses.
The Georgia transfer delivered Tuesday night, an effort Pitt absolutely relied on
Red-shirt junior forward Fatima Diakhate was a key contributor to Pitt’s two-point win, showing up impressively statistically. She went 9-9 on shots collectively, having 20 points with 12 rebounds, a block and strong interior defense. Diakhate made the difference in a game where Pitt’s offense underperformed for extended stretches.
She finished 20 out of Pitt’s 34 first-half points and seemed to be a reliable look whenever the Panthers struggled to produce. Pitt put up 28 points in the paint, and Diakhate was responsible for the majority of them.
On the downside, the Panthers shot just 40.4% overall and struggled to create consistent opportunities, meaning Diakhate’s ability to seal defenders, score through contact and create extra possessions piggybacked Pitt. Without the ex-Bulldog’s outing, Pitt would most certainly have walked away with their second loss of the season.
Pitt’s three-point shooting was rough
Slightly excluding junior guard Carla Viegas, Pitt’s three-point shooting was hard to watch, a clear weakness that kept Cornell in the game. The Panthers shot 5-22 from the perimeter, and all five completions came from one player, Viegas, who went 5-10 and put up 15 points. The rest of the squad went 0-12 from the field. So, we can guess what kind of shooting drill coach Tory Verdi will be working on in the next practice.
The scoring variety imbalance hurt Pitt’s offense. Cornell swarmed Diakhate, forcing Pitt’s guards to test their perimeter shooting skills. It wasn’t pretty. Red-shirt junior guard Mikayla Johnson went 0-5, red-shirt sophomore forward Lauren Rust and first-year guard Nylah Wilson each missed their two attempts, and senior guard Angel Jones missed her single attempt.
Lacking consistent spacing, Pitt’s plays became eerily predictable, forcing poor midrange shots and rushed drives.
The challenge proved costly in the fourth quarter, with Pitt’s offense only putting up nine points in 10 minutes, vanishing their lead. As Pitt plays more competitive teams, the Panthers can’t rely on a single shooter to supply all of its perimeter shots. With those kinds of stats, other teams will have no trouble scouting the Panthers.
Pitt’s lack of post depth remains a significant concern moving forward
While Diakhate held her own, the rest of Pitt’s post players struggled. Red-shirt sophomore forward Lauren Rust played 75% of the game but put up zero points on five shot attempts, just two rebounds and four turnovers.
She wasn’t alone — outside of Diakhate, Pitt’s post players combined for just four points and contributed little in terms of rim protection or interior physicality. The lack of depth became especially noticeable whenever Diakhate sat. Cornell found easier driving lanes, picked up extra offensive rebounds and began to chip away at Pitt’s lead.
By the fourth quarter, Pitt’s interior defense played down enough for Cornell to tie the game at 47-47 and kept it competitive until the final second. Against ACC opponents with stronger inside players, Pitt will need more dominant performances from players who aren’t #21. One effective post player can win games against lower-tier teams, but it won’t be enough against elite programs.
Next up, the Panthers will take on Scranton on Sunday, Nov. 16 at the Petersen Events Center, aiming to bounce back and shoot more three-pointers.