NCAA Women

Pitt Falls to No. 15 West Virginia in 48th Backyard Brawl

Binghamton

MORGANTOWN, W. Va. – The Pitt women’s basketball team (2-1) fell to No. 15 West Virginia (3-0) in the 48thedition of the women’s basketball Backyard Brawl in the WVU Coliseum on Tuesday night despite a 14-point and 12-rebound performance from transfer center Khadija Faye

Offensively, sophomore forward Lauren Rust scored a career-high 12 points on 4-for-7 shooting and the Panthers scored 26 points in the paint. Pitt shot 32.8 percent (19-of-58) from the field and 22.7 percent (5-of-22) from behind the arc. 

Pitt outrebounded West Virginia 38-35, which the Panthers converted into 18 second-chance points. Faye snagged eight offensive rebounds before fouling out with 8:20 remaining in the game. Pitt’s perimeter defenders held West Virginia to just 20 percent (6-of-30) shooting on three-point field goals. 

West Virginia, who leads the nation in forced turnovers per game (38), forced 30 Pitt turnovers. The Mountaineers shot 81.5 percent (22-of-27) from the free-throw line and 39.7 percent (27-of-68) from the field. 

How It Happened

Sparked by Rust’s first career three-pointer off a Brooklynn Miles assist, Pitt opened the contest with an early 5-3 lead. Pitt’s defense forced six West Virginia turnovers in the frame, but the Panthers shot 27 percent (4-for-15) from the field and 10 percent (1-for-10) from behind the arc to trail 12-9 after the first quarter. 

West Virginia opened the second quarter on a 9-2 run, before a Faye put-back bucket…

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