Pitt battled NC State on the road to the final whistle, but came up just short, losing 68-63 to conclude their regular season.
The Panthers (10-19 overall, 3-15 ACC) loss’ is the eighth straight to the Wolfpack, (19-10 overall, 9-9 ACC) a streak that started in 2016. The loss also makes it three straight for the Panthers and gives them a last place finish in the ACC for the second straight season and the third time in the last four seasons.
Both teams traded baskets to make it a 9-9 game to start out the first quarter. NC State would go on an 11-3 run to make it a 20-12 game with 1:30 remaining, but Pitt junior forward Gabby Hutcherson made a 3-pointer and first-year guard Avery Strickland scored a layup to make it a one possession game at the end, 20-17.
The Wolfpack kept trying to pull away in the second quarter, but the Panthers countered each time and kept it close. Junior guard Madison Hayes led the Wolfpack with eight points, while seven Panthers scored in the second quarter, making it a 40-36 lead for the home team.
NC State had seven different scores in the third quarter and used strong defense to hold Pitt to just nine points in the quarter and 25% shooting from the field. NC State build a lead as big as 10 and finished the period up 54-45.
The Panthers fell behind 11 points to the Wolfpack in the first three minutes of the fourth quarter, but responded with an 11-2 run of their own over the next two and half minutes to cut it to a one possession game at 61-58.
Pitt had a great chance down four points with less than 30 seconds remaining. Junior forward Liatu King made a steal, giving Pitt an opportunity to cut the lead to one point on the ensuing possession.
Panthers head coach Lance White, despite having two timeouts, chose not to do call one to set his team up. This resulted in a poor offensive possession for the Panthers and the Wolfpack getting the ball back and taking a five point lead to seal it with less than 10 seconds remaining.
Pitt played a solid game against NC State, but they didn’t create enough plays defensively that would’ve pushed them further for the victory. They made just six steals and two blocks in the game, both the second and third lowest in a game this season. Pitt only scored seven fast break points and scored just nine second chance points as well.
Graduate guard Channise Lewis and Hutcherson had two of their best games for the Panthers this season. Lewis made a season high four 3-pointers and finished with 14 points, second most this season, and Hutcherson made three 3-pointers and finished with 11 points, tied for her most in conference play.
Pitt shot 9-for-22, 40.9% from 3-point range against NC State, making it the second most they’ve made and their third best percentage from deep in an ACC game this season, respectively.
King scored 12 points against the Wolfpack, the first time she finished in double digits since the Georgia Tech win on Feb. 12. Senior forward Amber Brown scored 11 points in the loss, making it three straight games she’s scored in double digits.
Pitt finishes bottom of the conference, making them the No. 15 team heading into the ACC Tournament this week in Greensboro, N.C. They will take on No. 10 Clemson on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. Pitt lost to Clemson at home on Jan. 15, 72-57.
A team of 5 seniors. At least their having fun no more season tickets from me. Prob dont matter to them anyway