Pitt women’s basketball faced a recurring theme throughout its 2022 campaign — an inability to finish — both their games and, ultimately, the season — with the momentum they started with.

As the women’s NCAA basketball tournament rapidly approaches, The Pitt News sports desk gives its predictions for who will be crowned as national champion.

Pitt women’s basketball will be without its leading scorer from the past two seasons as the Panthers wrap up their regular season, as head coach Lance White announced Sunday that the program dismissed senior guard Jayla Everett.

Pitt women’s basketball has shown tremendous growth throughout the season with its deep roster of capable players, who have made up an exceptional rebounding and defensive basketball team. But the Panthers haven’t been able to break new ground this season, once again finding themselves towards the bottom of the ACC.

Pitt women’s basketball lost its annual Pink the Pete game Sunday afternoon to Syracuse. After leading by as many as 13 points in the first half, it lost 67-65 to the Orange at the Pete.

The Tarheels came out fast and Pitt had no answer until late in the game. But the Panthers ultimately ran out of time to mount a comeback, losing the game 64-54.

The Blue Devils prevailed over the Panthers 54-39 in a low-scoring game with plenty of turnovers. This loss marks the Panther’s fourth loss in their last five games.

Syracuse didn’t have to go deep into its bench to beat Pitt on Sunday afternoon. The Orange used just six players, but their hot shooting carried them past the Panthers for an 80-72 win at the Carrier Dome.

Pitt women’s basketball (10-9, 1-7 ACC) hosted No. 19 Notre Dame (14-4, 5-2 ACC) on Sunday, and lost to the Fighting Irish 77-63. The game was the Panthers’ sixth against a ranked opponent — their fifth in the ACC — and they have lost all six of those games.

Pitt women’s basketball (10-8, 1-6 ACC) traveled to Blacksburg, Virginia on Thursday and came up short against Virginia Tech (14-4, 6-1 ACC), falling to the Hokies 75-65.