Panthers Head to U.S. Virgin Islands for Paradise Jam

PITTSBURGH – The Pitt women's basketball team will head to the U.S. Virgin Islands to face Kansas, Auburn and Northern Iowa in the Paradise Jam on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, on the campus of the University of the Virgin Islands.

Tipoff is slated for 12:30 p.m. ET on each day, with all games being streamed via ESPN+.

Need to Know - Games 7-9
2024 Paradise Jam Tournament
Pitt, Kansas, Auburn and Northern Iowa
Nov. 28-30, 2024
University of the Virgin Islands

The Opening Tip
Faye Making Strides
Graduate center Khadija Faye is the only player in the NCAA to log 25 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks in a game this season (against Robert Morris). She moved into a tie for the third-most double-doubles in the nation (4) and the most of any player in the ACC following her performance against the Colonials.

On the Boards
Pitt is ranked fourth in the ACC in offensive rebounds per game (15.3), fifth in the ACC in rebound margin (9.2) and eighth in the ACC in rebounds per game (41.5).

Malcolm's Hot Start
Junior guard Aislin Malcolm has started the season hot from behind the arc, shooting at a 47.4 percent clip (9-for-19). Malcolm also grabbed a career-high seven rebounds, while logging five assists against Robert Morris.

Series History

Pitt will be playing Kansas, Auburn and Northern Iowa each for the first time in program history.

Scouting the Jayhawks

Kansas enters the Paradise Jam tournament at 4-1.
- The Jayhawks are following last season's NCAA tournament appearance, where they won their opening-round game against Michigan before losing to Elite-Eight-bound USC.
Kansas returned its leading scorer, S'Mya Nichols, who made the All-Big 12 first team as a freshman averaging 19.6 points per game last season. Nichols scored 508 points last season, the second-most for a freshman in Kansas program history.
The Jayhakws enter Paradise Jam in the wake of a 71-58 neutral-site loss to Iowa.
- Nichols and junior guard Elle Evans combined for 48 of Kansas' 58 points.
The Jayhawks enter the tournament ranked second in the Big 12 in 3-point percentage (39.4 percent).

Scouting the Tigers

Auburn travels to the Virgin Islands with a 3-2 record following a two-loss skid.
- The Tigers dropped their last two games to No. 23 Oregon and California, with both losses being by less than five points.
The Tigers are led by transfer guard Taliah Scott, who averages 20.3 points per game, and transfer forward DeYona Gaston, who averages 20.2 points per game. Gaston ranks first among SEC players and eighth in the nation in offensive rebounds per game (5.2).
Auburn is fifth in the nation and first in the SEC in 3-point percentage (45.2). Scott is shooting at a 50 percent clip (16-for-32) this season from behind the arc.

Scouting the Panthers

Northern Iowa moved to 3-1 on the season following its win against No. 8 Iowa State. The 87-75 victory marked the program's first top-10 win.
The Panthers are led by Maya McDermott, who scored a career-high 37 points against Iowa State on a career-high 14 made field goals.
- McDermott is averaging 26.0 points per game this season on 53.5 percent (38-for-71) shooting from the field and 48 percent (12-for-25) shooting from behind the arc.
McDermott was named to the All-MVC First Team and the MVC All-Tournament Team last season as well as being named to the 2024 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award Watch List.
The Panthers travel to the Virgin Islands ranked 22nd in the nation in field goal percentage (48.8 percent).

Last Time Out - vs. Robert Morris
Pitt defeated Robert Morris, 64-51, to improve to 5-1 to start the 2024-25 campaign. Pitt and Robert Morris traded offensive shots early, including a Panther 5-for-6 shooting stretch. The Colonials responded by opening the contest shooting 45 percent (5-for-11) from the field and led at the first media timeout, 11-10.

Following the break, Pitt's press defense blitzed Robert Morris and held the Colonials to a 5:50 scoring drought. Pitt retook the lead in the final minute of the first quarter, 12-11, following a Marley Washenitz all-nylon jump shot.

Bella Perkins started the second quarter hot with a 3-pointer opened up by a double screen to extend the Pitt lead to five (17-12). In a sluggish second quarter, Pitt scored eight points on seven forced RMU turnovers to carry a 27-20 lead into halftime.

Pitt capitalized on a 9-2 run in the third quarter to extend its lead to seven (36-29) at the media timeout. Aaryn Battle buried a 3-pointer off of an RMU turnover and Faye assist to break up a 2:19 Pitt scoring drought late in the quarter. Faye worked inside, grabbing eight rebounds in the frame. The Panthers led 45-34 entering the fourth quarter.

The Panthers caught fire from the field late in the contest, connecting on 50 percent (7-of-14) of their shots in the fourth quarter. Pitt outscored the Colonials 19-17 in the final 10 minutes with five different Panthers scoring.

Season Tickets
Season tickets for the 2024-25 Pitt women's basketball season are on sale now through the Panthers Ticket Office. Season tickets can be purchased for $75 each. The Panthers' schedule promises another exciting campaign in the ACC, which boasts multiple nationally ranked foes.

Secure your new 2024-25 season tickets HERE. Season ticket holders from last season who want to renew their season tickets can log onto their account online and renew HERE. All seating in the Petersen Events Center will be General Admission, excluding VIP Courtside.

Up Next
Following this week's tournament, the Panthers will return to the Petersen Events Center to face Duquesne on Wednesday, Dec. 4.