The Cornell women’s basketball team rallied from an 11-point second-half deficit but fell just short in a 56-54 loss to Pittsburgh on Tuesday night at the Petersen Events Center. The Big Red dropped to 0-2, while the Panthers improved to 2-1 behind a late surge.
Cornell came out strong, shooting 53.8 percent in the first quarter to build a 16-9 lead, highlighted by early baskets from Rachel Kaus and Clarke Jackson. Pittsburgh responded with a 21-14 second quarter behind Fatima Diakhate’s perfect 6-for-6 shooting, giving the Panthers a 34-30 halftime edge. Diakhate finished with a game-high 20 points on 9-of-9 shooting, while teammate Carla Viegas added 15 points, all from beyond the arc.
The Panthers extended their lead to 11 midway through the third before Cornell mounted a furious comeback. Sparked by strong play from Jackson, Kaus, and Emily Pape, the Big Red went on a 17-2 run that gave them a 51-47 lead with just over three minutes to play. Jackson led Cornell with 15 points, while Pape and Kaus added 11 apiece.
However, Viegas drained back-to-back three-pointers in the final minutes to swing the momentum back to Pitt, and Diakhate’s late layup sealed the win. Cornell shot 37.7 percent from the field and held its own defensively but was edged 38-30 on the boards.
The Big Red continue their road trip on Friday, November 14, at Mercyhurst, with tipoff set for 6 p.m.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to kyle@fingerlakes1.com.