On Sunday, Pittsburgh women’s basketball coach Tory Verdi delivered a straightforward message to his team during halftime, as they faced a significant deficit against SMU at home. “I kept saying ‘fight,’” he recalled. Following that encouragement, the Panthers delivered an unparalleled performance, achieving a historic comeback.
The Panthers were down by as much as 32 points in the first half and still trailed by 31 points at halftime. However, they executed an extraordinary turnaround, tying an NCAA Division I women’s basketball record for the largest comeback by rallying to defeat SMU 72-59. Mikayla Johnson starred with 22 points, while Khadija Faye contributed 21.
This impressive comeback equaled the record previously set by Texas State on February 18, 2006, when they overcame a 32-point deficit to beat UTSA 73-71 in overtime. Verdi expressed the gravity of the situation at halftime, stating, “I don’t have any magic words and I don’t have any magic plays. We were just getting outworked, we were getting outplayed.” He emphasized pride and provided a clear strategy for how they could reclaim the game.
Leading up to the successful comeback, SMU dominated, pushing their lead to 46-14 late in the first half. Nonetheless, Pittsburgh mounted an incredible rally, concluding the game with a scoring run of 58-13. The Panthers initially struggled offensively, missing their first ten shots and only landing 2 out of 20 attempts from the field. After the first quarter, SMU held a commanding 32-7 advantage, further extending the lead to 32 points before halftime.
In a stunning turn, the Mustangs faced a lengthy scoring drought. By the end of the third quarter, Pittsburgh had outscored them 28-0. Johnson and Marley Washenitz ignited the second half with back-to-back three-pointers, bringing the score to 49-24. Faye’s six consecutive points further chipped away at SMU’s lead, causing whispers about the comeback to ripple through the press row. Verdi felt the intensity and began to embody the players’ determination, expressing, “I just was in the game with them.”
As the third quarter concluded, Johnson’s three-pointer narrowed the score to a close 49-46. The Panthers capped off a stunning 31-0 run at the beginning of the fourth quarter with a three-pointer from Makalya Elmore, tying the game. SMU briefly regained the lead, but a jumper from Washenitz evened the score again at 54. Elmore then hit another three-pointer, securing the lead for the Panthers with just under five minutes remaining.
Reflecting on the monumental victory, Verdi expressed deep pride in his players’ resilience and effort, stating, “Once I really realized what occurred, it’s amazing. But I’m just so proud. It’s not me. Our kids did this and they deserve this.”
In terms of statistics, the game showcased some remarkable figures from Pitt’s incredible comeback. SMU’s shooting plummeted to just 7% in the second half, making only 2 out of 28 attempts. Conversely, Pittsburgh improved significantly, finishing 16 for 24 in their last shooting efforts. Nya Robertson, who scored 21 points in the first half for SMU, managed only two in the second half, alongside her teammates who collectively struggled to find the net.
In summary, Pittsburgh’s stunning comeback not only showcased the depth of their determination but also reflected a pivotal shift in momentum that led to a memorable victory, etching their names in NCAA history for achieving one of the league’s largest comebacks.
