March 7, 2000

STORRS, Conn. - The Pittsburgh women's basketball team could not overcome a 12-point halftime deficit and Latasha Johnson's 33 points as the Panthers fell, 75-62, to St. John's at the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion in the first round of the Big East Tournament March 4.

Pittsburgh held a 9-8 advantage at the 15:03 mark of the first half. But St. John's scored 11 unanswered points to take the lead for good, 19-12, with 12:08 remaining in the period. The Panthers cut their deficit to four moments later on a Brooke Stewart (North Versailles, Pa./East Allegheny) 3- pointer, but a 13-2 St. John's scoring surge gave the Red Storm a 32-17 lead at the 5:51 mark. St. John's held on to a double-figure lead through the remaining minutes and went into intermission ahead, 41-29.

The Panthers managed to bring the score within five, 53-48, at the 8:07 mark of he second half on the strength of a 9-3 run ending with a Mandy Wittenmyer (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) layup, but could come no closer. Pittsburgh was held to just four points over the final 3:15 while St. John's closed the game on a 10-2 scoring surge to provide the final margin.

Wittenmyer led Pittsburgh with her 14 points and 12 rebounds for her eighth double-double of the season. Junior Monique Toney (Yorba Linda, Calif./Cerritos Valley Christian) added another 14 point, while Stewart had 13.