Pitt to Visit Syracuse Thursday in Key Matchup

PITTSBURGH – In a game with severe ACC Tournament implications, the Pitt women's basketball team will travel to face league foe Syracuse Thursday evening at the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, N.Y.

Tipoff is slated for 7:00 p.m., and the game can be streamed via ACCNX.

Need to Know - Game 30
Pitt (12-17, 4-12 ACC) at Syracuse (10-17, 4-12 ACC)
Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025 – 7:00 p.m.
Syracuse, N.Y. – JMA Wireless Dome

The Opening Tip
Historic Season Thus Far
In the second year under head coach Tory Verdi, Pitt has already recorded its highest win total (12) since the 2016-17 campaign and tied its second-most ACC wins (4) since joining the league.

Stellar Shooting Night
Against Clemson, Pitt's 60 percent shooting clip from the floor marked the best percentage the Panthers have shot against an ACC opponent since joining the conference. Additionally, it marked Pitt's highest percentage in any game since shooting 60.7 percent from the field against Bryant on Nov. 16, 2022.

Johnson Finds Her Role
Redshirt sophomore guard Mikayla Johnson has played her best basketball of the season lately, averaging 18.0 points per game while shooting 12-of-25 (48.0 percent) from 3-point range over the last four games. Her last miss from the charity stripe came against then-No. 19 Cal on Feb. 2, as she's gone 18-for-18 from the chalk since then.

Faye's Continues to Dominate
Graduate center Khadija Faye tallied her ACC-leading 15th double-double of the year with 21 points and 10 boards against Clemson. Of note, it marked her sixth-straight double-double. Faye is the lone player nationally averaging 18+ points, 10+ rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game.

Series History

Thursday will mark the 73rd meeting between Pitt and Syracuse, as the Orange lead the all-time series (53-19).
The Panthers have dropped 26-straight against Syracuse and are looking for their first road win in the series since Jan. 24, 2009.

Scouting the Orange

Syracuse has compiled a 10-17 ledger, including a 4-12 mark in ACC play.
- The Orange is in the midst of a four-game losing streak and recently fell to then-No. 11 Duke, 80-49.
Syracuse is led by guard Georgia Woolley - who averages 15.5 PPG.
- Fellow guard Sophie Burrows also contributes significantly, averaging 11.4 points per contest, while shooting 39.6 percent from 3-point range.
As a team, Syracuse scores 69.6 points per game, while forcing 16.7 turnovers.

Last Time Out - vs. Clemson
Paced by Faye and junior guard Marley Washenitz, Pitt downed Clemson, 72-59, Sunday evening at the Petersen Events Center.

Faye got off to a great start, logging the Panthers' first six points as Pitt owned a 6-3 advantage 90 seconds into the contest. Clemson then went on a 9-4 spurt to take a two-point lead at 12-10. Faye closed the opening period with five unanswered, giving Pitt a 15-12 lead after 10 minutes of action. Individually, Faye recorded 11 points on 5-for-5 shooting from the floor in the first quarter.

Faye then opened the second frame with an and-one, but Clemson responded with a 10-3 spurt. The Panthers came alive defensively, holding the Tigers scoreless over the final 5:24 of the half – closing the second period on a 10-0 run. Pitt led, 31-19, at the halftime break behind Faye's 14 first half points.

The two teams traded field goals for the first five minutes of the third quarter as Pitt maintained its double-digit lead. After a Clemson jumper narrowed the Tigers' deficit to nine, the Panthers went on a 10-3 run behind six points from Washenitz to go up 16 with 34 seconds left in the third frame. Clemson closed the period with a triple, but Pitt took a 50-37 lead into the fourth quarter.

The Panthers and the Tigers exchanged baskets to start the final 10 minutes of action, before a Washenitz three sparked a 9-2 run – extending Pitt's lead to 19 (63-44) with just under five minutes remaining.

Clemson then reeled off an 11-3 burst, narrowing its deficit to 11 with 90 seconds left. Pitt closed the game with stellar shooting from the charity stripe down the stretch to secure the 72-59 victory.

Up Next
The Panthers conclude the 2024-25 regular season at Wake Forest on Sunday, March 2. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m., and the game can be streamed via ACCNX.