Panthers Clash with Louisville in Thrilling Homecoming at Petersen Events Center This Thursday!

PITTSBURGH – Amid a two-game losing streak, the Pitt women’s basketball squad will return to their home court to compete against ACC rival Louisville on Thursday night at the Petersen Events Center.

The tipoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m., and the game will be available for streaming on ACCNX. 

Essential Information – Game 17

Pitt (8-8, 0-3 ACC) vs. Louisville (10-5, 3-1 ACC)

Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025 – 6:00 p.m.

Pittsburgh, Pa. – Petersen Events Center

The Opening Tip

Double Double Specialist

Graduate center Khadija Faye has achieved six double doubles this season, ranking 27th across the nation. Faye averages 17.4 points and 9.7 rebounds per contest. The native of Dakar, Senegal, ranks within the top 50 nationally in seven statistical categories (Offensive Rebounds Per Game – 5th, Free Throw Attempts – 8th, Blocks – 11th, Blocks Per Game – 11th, Free Throws – 13th, Double Doubles – 27th, and Rebounds – 45th). Faye also leads the ACC in offensive rebounds per game at 4.9, while being a cornerstone of a Panther defense that permits only 63.0 points every 40 minutes – ranking ninth in the conference.

Reaching the Free Throw Line

The Panthers have consistently reached the free throw line, standing eighth in the ACC with 17.63 attempts per game. Individually, Faye has been a key player in this aspect, placing eighth nationally in free throw attempts. Notably, Pitt achieved a perfect record (13-of-13) from the charity stripe against No. 13 Georgia Tech.

Halftime Adjustments 

Pitt has been particularly potent following halftime this season. Overall, the Panthers have outscored their opponents 283-224 (+59) during the third quarter of games.

Series History

• Thursday will signify the 30th all-time encounter between Pitt and Louisville, with the Cardinals leading the series 27-2.
  • Pitt has lost 23 consecutive games to Louisville, stretching back to the 2010-11 season.
    • In contests held at the Petersen Events Center, the Panthers have a record of 2-12 against the Cardinals.

Analyzing the Cardinals

• Louisville boasts a 10-5 record this season, with a 3-1 record in ACC matchups.
  • The Cardinals have a strong away record of 5-1, including victories against Colorado and Boston College.

• Louisville has won four consecutive games, including an overtime win against Wake Forest on Sunday night.
  • In that match, junior forward Nyla Harris contributed 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting.

• The leading duo for Louisville is Jayda Curry and Tajianna Roberts, who collectively average 23.9 points per game.
• Olivia Cochran has also had a commendable season thus far, with averages of 10.7 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.

Last Time Out – at No. 14 Duke

Pitt faced a defeat against No. 14-ranked Duke, falling 69-31, on Sunday at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C.

Duke initiated the game with a 7-0 run, but the Panthers quickly countered with a 7-2 streak to narrow the gap to two points at 4:59, thanks to scores from Washenitz, Faye, and Johnson. Following a media timeout, Duke finished the first period with an 11-2 run, leading 20-9 after 10 minutes of play.

The Blue Devils’ full-court press continued to stifle Pitt’s offensive efforts, limiting the Panthers to just six points in the second quarter. 

Duke commenced the third period with nine straight points, before Faye’s layup marked Pitt’s first score at the 5:34 mark. Notably, Faye’s basket triggered a 6-2 run by the Panthers; however, they remained scoreless for the rest of the quarter.

The Panthers continued to battle hard towards the end, but were unable to reduce the deficit, ultimately losing 69-31.

Up Next

The Panthers stay home, welcoming SMU on Sunday, Jan. 12. The tipoff is set for 1 p.m., and it will be available for streaming on ACCNX.