Women's Basketball

Harris, Pitt Knock Out Notre Dame In Final Seconds

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Dayshanette Harris hit the go-ahead jumper with 2.7 seconds to play and stole Notre Dame’s ensuing inbound pass as Pittsburgh beat the Fighting Irish 67-65 Wednesday for its second-ever victory in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament.

Pitt (5-25) snapped a 12-game skid in the series, dating to Feb. 3, 2009, and likely put an end to a string of 24 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances by the Fighting Irish. The Panthers, who had lost nine straight games overall, won for just the second time since beating Mississippi 58-50 on Nov. 30.

Harris finished with 20 points and a career-high 10 rebounds — the freshman’s first double-double. Gabbie Green hit 4 of 5 from 3-point range and had 14 points and Amber Brown and Ismini Prapa scored 12 apiece. Prapa, who went into the game averaging 1.5 points per game, made 4 of 4 from the field and set career highs for points, 3-pointers made (four) and assists (three).

Notre Dame tried to trap Harris but she tip-toed along the right sideline to slip past the double team and then pulled up for a short tie-breaking jumper. The Fighting Irish called a timeout, moving to the ball to the front court, but Harris anticipated the inbound pass and her steal sealed the win.

The No. 15 seed Panthers play seventh-seeded Georgia Tech (19-10) in the second round Thursday at 6 p.m.

Katlyn Gilbert led Notre Dame (13-18) with 20 points on 9-of-16 shooting. The rest of the team shot just 31% (15 of 48).

OF NOTE:

  • Pitt captured its second ACC Women’s Tournament win and the first since defeating North Carolina 82-72 in overtime in 2016.
  • The Panthers defeated Notre Dame for the first time since winning 82-72 in regular season play on Feb. 3, 2009 … Pitt defeated the Fighting Irish in postseason play for the first time a 64-53 win in the Big East Tournament on March 9, 2008 … Notre Dame now leads the all-time series 29-4.
  • The win snapped a nine-game losing streak for Pitt, which had last won versus Wake Forest on Jan. 30 in Pittsburgh … Notre Dame had won three consecutive games and six of its previous nine prior to Wednesday.
  • The defending ACC champion Fighting Irish failed to reach Sunday’s championship game for the first time since joining the conference for the 2013-14 season … The Fighting Irish are now 17-2 all-time in ACC Tournament play.
  • Pitt’s Dayshanette Harris posted her fifth 20-plus points scoring game, the most by a freshman in the program since Brianna Kiesel did it seven times in 2011-12 … Harris scored in double figures for the seventh consecutive game and the 15th time this season.
  • Pitt freshman forward Rita Igbokwe blocked four shots on Wednesday. She has had multiple blocks in 16 games this season, including 13 of the last 20.
  • Georgia Tech defeated the Panthers 77-48 when the teams met at Pittsburgh on Feb. 6