Feb. 24, 2000

Box Score

VILLANOVA, Pa. - The Pittsburgh women's basketball team sank three free throws in the final 17 seconds to seal a 64-62 win over host Villanova Feb. 23 at the Pavilion. The win improved Pittsburgh's overall record to 15-10 and 6-8 in Big East play.

The Panthers rallied from a 51-43 deficit with 7:21 remaining with a 10-2 scoring surge to take a 54-53 lead at 3:57 off Monique Toney's (Yorba Linda, Calif./Cerritos Valley Christian) driving layup. Pittsburgh and Villanova knotted the score three times over the next minute-and-a-half, but Toney's 3- pointer with 1:22 to go gave the Panthers the lead for good, 61-58. The Wildcats came within one point three times, but Michelle Katkowski (Mt. Pleasant, Pa./Mt. Pleasant) sank two free throws and Toney added another to ensure the win.

Villanova went ahead by as much as 11 points, 24-13, at the 4:25 mark in the first half. But the Panthers responded with a 12-4 run over the ensuing minutes to pull within 28-25 at halftime.

Three Panthers scored in double-figures for Pittsburgh. Freshman Mandy Wittenmyer (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) led all scorers with 15 points. She was joined by Toney who had 14 and senior Gina Montesano (Rochester, N.Y./Mercy) who added 10 points.

The Panthers return to Fitzgerald Field House Saturday, Feb. 26 for their final home game of the season when they host Georgetown at 7 p.m.