The Pittsburgh Panthers women’s basketball team made history in NCAA women’s basketball on Sunday, achieving a remarkable comeback from a 32-point deficit to secure a 72-59 victory over the SMU Mustangs. This victory equals the largest comeback in NCAA Division I women’s basketball history, previously set by Texas State in their 2006 win against UTSA, though Pitt’s recovery was notable for occurring without the need for overtime.
Entering the fourth quarter down 52-44, the Panthers delivered a stunning second half, outscoring SMU 54-10, as detailed by Jon Hoefling of USA Today. The Mustangs failed to score in the third quarter, going 0-for-11 from the field and turning the ball over five times as Pitt surged ahead. Meanwhile, the Panthers showcased their offensive prowess, shooting 11-for-16 from the field and 4-for-6 from beyond the arc in the same period.
Mikayla Johnson and Khadija Faye were pivotal in Pitt’s scoring dynamics, contributing 22 and 21 points, respectively. Faye’s impact in the paint was instrumental in the Panthers’ comeback efforts, while Johnson’s ability to shoot from distance solidified their advantage. Nya Robertson, who led SMU with 23 points, saw her team struggle to maintain an offensive flow after halftime.
The struggles for SMU continued into the fourth quarter, where they managed to score only 10 points. Their second half performance was highlighted by just one field goal — a three-pointer from Zanai Jones with 6:49 on the clock that briefly gave the Mustangs a 54-52 lead. However, Pittsburgh women’s basketball answered back with a decisive 20-5 run to finish the game, completing their historic comeback with a convincing 13-point margin.
This victory marks only the second occurrence in NCAA women’s basketball history that a team has overturned a deficit of 30 points or more. What sets Pitt’s accomplishment apart is their ability to complete the comeback in regulation, contrasting with Texas State’s overtime win in 2006.
“I’ve heard from coaches all over the country … It’s just, the messages that I got were like ‘Wow, that was amazing. I’ve never seen that before.’ That was fun. Certainly appreciate all the messages, a lot of love,” stated Pittsburgh women’s basketball second-year head coach Tory Verdi during an interview with ACC Network on Monday. “The storyline was you could get back in the game if you believed, and we believed, we fought and we made it happen. I think a lot of people appreciated that.”
Looking ahead, Pittsburgh women’s basketball faces a tough challenge as they prepare to travel to take on defending NCAA champion South Carolina on Thursday, Jan. 16. This matchup, scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, will put to the test whether Pitt can sustain their momentum against one of the nation’s elite programs.
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