Nov. 12, 2001

PITTSBURGH-The Pittsburgh women's basketball team concluded its 2001-02 exhibition season with a 100-49 victory over M.I. Express Friday night at Fitzgerald Field House.

The Panthers opened up a 22-4 advantage with 11:12 left in the first half as junior Brooke Stewart (North Versailles, Pa./East Allegheny) poured in eight early points, including three fast-break layups. M.I. Express crawled back to within 10 points (35-25) with just over four minutes remaining in the half, but the Panthers closed out the stanza with a 15-4 run and entered the locker room with a 50-29 advantage.

Pittsburgh shot lights out in the first half, draining 65 percent of its shots from the field while holding M.I. Express to 38 percent shooting. Stewart finished the half with 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting, while junior Mandy Wittenmyer (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) added 12 points on 6-of-8 shooting.

By the 8:37 mark in the second half, Pittsburgh had extended its lead to 31 points and cruised to the 51-point victory.

Five different Panthers tallied double figures in scoring, including Wittenmyer and freshman Haley Harguth (Beaverton, Ore./Beaverton) totaling 16 points apiece. Stewart added 15 points, while senior Bettina Love (Rochester, N.Y./Edison Tech) poured in 14 points and freshman Allisha Morris (Hampton, Va./Hampton) recorded 10 points and a game-high 11 boards.

For the second straight contest, Pittsburgh controlled the boards. The Panthers snared 46 rebounds to M.I. Express' 22.

Pittsburgh now has a week to gear up for its regular season opener against William & Mary next Friday in Fitzgerald Field House. Tip off is slated for 8 p.m. and follows the men's basketball team season opener against Morgan State.