Pitt Set To Host No. 12 Virginia Tech Thursday Night At The Pete

PITTSBURGH – The Pitt women's basketball team (7-10, 0-6 ACC) returns home Thursday evening as they welcome No. 12 Virginia Tech to the Petersen Events Center for a 6:00 pm tip.

GAME PROMOTION

Thursday's game will be Pitt's Military/Hometown Heroes Appreciation game. Fans will receive camouflage Pitt rally towels to show support.
There will also be in-game recognition for all Military/Hometown Heroes in attendance.

HOW TO FOLLOW

Thursday's game will air live on ACC Network Extra and can be viewed HERE.
Live stats of the game can be found by clicking HERE.
Live updates throughout the game will also be posted on Twitter by following the Pitt women's basketball account @Pitt_WBB.

STORYLINES

Junior Liatu King has been the Panthers' best player all season long as she leads the squad averaging 11.4 points and 8.8 rebounds while shooting 43.7% from the floor. King ranks 6th in the ACC in rebounds (8.8 rpg) and 5th in blocks (1.6 bpg).
Senior Amber Brown is on a roll for Pitt as she netted her sixth straight game in double figures against Clemson, finishing with 10 points, three assists and two steals in the loss. Over her past six games, Brown is averaging a team-high 15.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.8 steals while shooting 55.0% from the floor.

THE OPENING TIP

The Panthers return home to the Pete Thursday, Jan. 19 as they welcome No. 12 Virginia Tech for a 6pm tip on ACC Network Extra.
The undersized forward duo of Liatu King and Amber Brown are combining to average 22.0 points and 14.0 rebounds while shooting 47.8% from the floor on the year.
Sophomore guard Maliyah Johnson has been one of the most improved players in the ACC this year as she has raised her scoring average from 1.9 ppg as a freshman to 8.8 ppg this season. Last time out, Johnson led the Panthers in scoring as she netted 15 points. She has scored in double figures seven times this season after no such games as a freshman.

THE SERIES WITH VIRGINIA TECH

This meeting marks the 19th between the two programs with Virginia Tech holding the 13-5 lead in the all-time series.
The Hokies have won six straight in the series including a 75-65 home win last season.
The Hokies hold the slim 4-3 edge in games played in Pittsburgh.
Pitt's last win the series came at home on 2/16/17.

SCOUTING THE HOKIES

The Virginia Tech Hokies enter Thursday's game at Pittsburgh ranked No. 13 in the nation as they own a 14-3 overall record and a 4-3 ACC mark. The Hokies are coming off an 81-79 home win over Louisville in their last game.
The potent Hokies attack is anchored by All-American Elizabeth Kitley who is averaging 18.5 points, 10.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks while shooting 54% from the floor. Point guard Georgia Amoore is having another strong season as she is averaging 13.9 points while ranking 3rd in the ACC in assists (5.7 apg) and connecting on 43 triples.
Boston College transfer Taylor Soule is averaging 11.9 points and 5.5 rebounds while Kayana Traylor is also averaging 11.8 points and 3.6 boards while leading the team with 21 steals.
As a team, Virginia Tech is averaging 75.3 ppg (5th in the ACC) while allowing just 56.8 ppg (2nd in the ACC).

BROWN MAKING HER 98^TH STRAIGHT START

Senior captain Amber Brown hasn't missed a game over her four-year career and has earned the start in every single game.
The do-it-all player has started all 97 career games for the Panthers while averaging 28.0 minutes per game in her career.
Brown will be making her 98th straight start to begin her career Thursday, marking the most consecutive starts to begin a career for a Pitt player since Brianna Kiesel started a program record 122 straight games (2011-14).
Brown's streak of 97 straight games to start a career are the most by any active ACC player without missing a game. Virginia Tech's Elizabeth Kitley has earned 103 starts in a row to start her career but she has also missed games over her career as a Hokie.

JOHNSON ENJOYING STRONG SOPHOMORE CAMPAIGN

Sophomore guard Maliyah Johnson took a major step forward this offseason and it has earned her a spot in the starting lineup.
Last time out, Johnson finished with a team-high 15 points while shooting 6-for-13 from the floor and 3-for-9 from behind the arc. She also played a career-high 35 minutes in the loss.
So far this season, Johnson has started 14 of 17 games and is averaging a career-high 8.8 points and 3.4 rebounds while shooting 42.0% from the floor and 33.3% from behind the arc.
Johnson is one of the most improved players in the ACC as she went from averaging 1.9 points as a freshman to 8.8 points this season.
Earlier this season in the win over Bryant, Johnson exploded for a career-high 20 points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal in 20 minutes of work. She finished off her efficient game going 7-for-9 from the floor and 4-for-6 from behind the arc in the win.
The 20-point effort was a career-high and marked her first career game in double digits. The four three-pointers were also a career-high.
She has scored in double figures seven times this season after not scoring 10+ in any game last season as a freshman. She also has three games with 15+ points on the year.
Johnson has already connected on a career-high and team-high 23 triples including six games with multiple threes. She also has a career-high 19 steals which ranks 3rd on the team.

NEXT UP

Pitt will head south for their next game as they travel to the Sunshine State to take on Florida State on Sunday, Jan. 22 at 2:00 pm. Sunday's game will air live on ACC Network Extra.

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