SMU women’s basketball fell short to Pittsburgh, losing 59-72 in Moody Coliseum.
Coming out strong in the first half, SMU took a 32-18 lead going into halftime with a solid performance from Nya Robertson who tallied 23 points. However, the Mustangs’ offense struggled in the second half, especially in the third quarter, where they failed to score a single point.
“You know man, I think we can only get better and we aren’t going to let this loss define us,” junior guard TK Pitts said.
Pitt was trailing at halftime but found major energy in the third quarter, putting up 28 points, largely thanks to performances from Khadija Faye and Mikayla Johnson. Faye finished with 21 points and Johnson added 22, both playing pivotal roles in the Panthers’ dominant second half. Pittsburgh’s ability to hit key shots and capitalize on SMU’s turnovers helped them control the game after the break. The Mustangs were held to just two of 13 shooting from the field in the third quarter, which effectively sealed their fate.
Coach Wilson reflected on SMU’s performance, noting there’s work to be done for future games.
“This game wasn’t our best. I feel like we put up a fight,” Wilson said. “We continue to have too many turnovers during the game but we are working on prohibiting those mistakes.”
The Mustangs’ offensive mishaps were very evident in their shooting, finishing the game with a dismal 24.2% shooting from the court. Their struggles stemmed from Pitt’s harsh defense, which forced 15 turnovers taking over 22 points from those mistakes.
Despite efforts from Nya Robertson and others to keep the game competitive, SMU’s inability to maintain control in crucial moments prevented them from achieving a serious comeback.
Despite the loss, senior center Jessia Peterson shared that the team still supported one another.
“I believe me and the girls played a good game,” Peterson said. “Even though we lost, the girls and I are very proud of ourselves.”
Pittsburgh finished the game with a well-rounded performance, shooting 40% from the court, with key contributions of eight points and 10 assists that added depth to Pitt’s lineup.
The loss drops SMU to 10-7 on the season and 2-3 in ACC play, while Pittsburgh improved to 9-9 overall and 1-4 in conference play.
