“Outscored 28-0 in the 3rd is WILD”: College hoops fans stunned as Pittsburgh complete largest comeback in NCAA women’s basketball history

On Sunday, the Pittsburgh Panthers made history by completing the biggest comeback in NCAA women's basketball history with their 72-59 triumph over the SMU Mustangs. The deficit the home team had to face ballooned to as much as 32 points, as their opposition led 46-14 with under two minutes left in the first half.

Due to their never-give-up performance on Sunday, fans on social media went wild over the Panthers' incredible comeback.

"Outscored 28-0 in the 3rd is WILD," one user emphasized.

"Outscored 28-0 in the 3rd is WILD," one user emphasized.

"Down 32 to a comfortable double digit win is INSANITY," another exclaimed.

"Down 32 to a comfortable double digit win is INSANITY," another exclaimed.

"Nah, this is insane. I would’ve made my team walk home lol," another user shared.

"Nah, this is insane. I would’ve made my team walk home lol," another user shared.

"SMU boutta run the most suicides ever," a user wrote with a laughing emoji.

"SMU boutta run the most suicides ever," a user wrote with a laughing emoji.

"Coach had to have given the greatest halftime speech ever for this to happen!!," one user said.

"Coach had to have given the greatest halftime speech ever for this to happen!!," one user said.

"They got thunderstruck at halftime," a user commented.

"They got thunderstruck at halftime," a user commented.

Pittsburgh found their groove right after the second half whistle, both offensively and defensively, as SMU led 49-18. The Panthers were untouchable scoring the ball in this period, connecting on more three-pointers. But, what's most impressive about the third quarter was how they held the Mustangs scoreless throughout it — eventually outscoring them 28-0.

Cutting away the sizeable gap to three, 49-46, heading into the final frame, the Tory Verdi-coached squad set up back-to-back threes for senior Makayla Elmore and junior Marley Washenitz to tie and subsequently, earn their first lead at the 8:04 mark, 52-51.

The Panthers kept their momentum, holding SMU to just eight more points in the final quarter while scoring 20 themselves. They won the game 72-59.

With the huge come-from-behind win, the Panthers have won their first conference fixture of the 2024-2025 season after losing four straight. They'll attempt to go for consecutive victories on Thursday against the NC State Wolfpack.

Pittsburgh Panthers matches biggest comeback in college women's basketball

With their 58-13 second half run to come back from as much as 32 markers, the Pittsburgh Panthers were able to tie the largest comeback in NCAA women's basketball history. Back in February of 2006, Texas State had a similar 32-point gap that they returned and won from, 73-71, against the University of Texas - San Antonio.

But what makes Pittsburgh's victory more impressive was the fact that they didn't need to force overtime and even won by double digits. The Texas State win was pushed into the extra period, with which they won by two points, unlike the Panthers,' who were able to stretch their lead to 13 to conclude the comeback.