PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Cornell shot 53.8 percent from the field in the first quarter and rallied from an 11-point third-quarter deficit to take the lead in the fourth, but Pittsburgh hit back-to-back 3-pointers in the final three minutes to edge the Big Red 56-54 Tuesday night in non-conference women's basketball action from the Petersen Events Center.
Pittsburgh (2-1) was led by Fatima Diakhate's game-high 20 points on 9-for-9 shooting, while Carla Viegas added 15 points on 5-for-10 shooting from 3-point range. The Panthers shot 40.4 percent from the field and held a 38-30 rebounding advantage.
Cornell (0-2) received 11 points from both
Emily Pape and
Rachel Kaus, while
Clarke Jackson finished with a team-best 15 points on 5-for-8 shooting. Pape and Jackson added nine and seven rebounds, respectively, while
Paige Engels contributed nine points and three rebounds. The Big Red shot 37.7 percent from the field, including 34.8 percent from beyond the arc and 60.0 percent at the line.
The Big Red jumped out to a quick start, shooting 7-for-13 from the field in the opening quarter, including 2-for-3 from 3-point range. Cornell took its largest lead of the game, 16-9, when Kaus drained a hook shot in the paint with 53 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
Pittsburgh responded with a 21-14 second quarter, fueled by 60.0 percent shooting from the field, to take a 34-30 lead into halftime. Diakhate scored 12 points on perfect 6-for-6 shooting in the first half to pace the Panthers.
The Panthers extended their lead to 11 points, 45-34, at the 3:32 mark of the third quarter on a layup by Diakhate, forcing Cornell to call a timeout.
From there, the Big Red mounted a furious comeback, sparking a 17-2 run over the next 9:50 of game action, trimming the deficit and eventually taking a 51-47 lead on a Kaus layup with 3:30 remaining in the fourth quarter. Engels and Kaus scored five apiece during the stretch, and Jackson added four, as the Big Red clawed back to take the lead.
However, Pittsburgh responded as Viegas connected on a pair of 3-pointers to give the Panthers a 53-52 lead with 1:04 remaining.
Cornell would not go down without a fight, as Engels gave the Big Red the lead back on the ensuing possession, 54-53, but Diakhate matched it on the other end to give Pittsburgh back a one-point lead they would not relinquish.
Game Notes
• Thursday marked the third meeting all-time between Cornell and Pitt.
• Cornell moves to 0-3 all-time against Pitt and 3-31 all-time against the current members of the ACC.
• Pape's nine rebounds gives her 508 for her career.
• Pape finished with 11 points, recording the 46th game of her career with double-digit points.
• Jackson recorded 15 points for her 11th career game in double figures, while Kaus' 11 gives her 22 games with 10 or more points.
•
Kelsey Langston finished with a team-best five assists, her second career game with five or more assists.
• Tuesday marked the first time since Feb. 28, 2025 that three players recorded double figures in the same game for the Big Red.
• Cornell is now 2-4 under head coach
Emily Garner when a game is decided by three points or less.
Next Up
The Big Red stay on the road when it travels to Erie, Pa., for a Friday, Nov. 14 matchup against Mercyhurst at 6 p.m. from the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.
Cornell won the lone meeting between the two schools.
