Pittsburgh Routs Providence

2/5/2000

Women's basketball gets 13th win with 63-41 victory.

PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh women's basketball team used an 18-5 scoring surge fueled by Mandy Wittenmyer's eight points in the initial minutes of the second half to go on to a 63-41 rout of visiting Providence today at Fitzgerald Field House.

Wittenmyer (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland) finished the day with a game-high 18 points and career-high 14 rebounds for her seventh double-double of the season.

After holding a 29-20 lead at intermission, Pittsburgh went on its decisive run sparked by Wittenmyer's eight points and Celeste Barkley's (Rochester, N.Y./Penfield) five, to take a 48-27 advantage with 9:02 remaining. The Panthers increased their lead to as much as 23 before providing the final margin.

The Panthers opened the game on a 13-0 run and held Providence without a field goal until the 10:22 mark. The Friars brought the score within four (21-17) at 3:02, but Pittsburgh closed the half on an 8-3 run to go into intermission ahead, 29-20.

Joining Wittenmyer in double-figures was Barkley who had 12 points, and freshman forward Dallas Williams (Mason, Ohio/Mason) who added 10 points and four assists of her own. Junior guard Monique Toney (Yorba Linda, Calif./Cerritos Valley Christian) dished out a game-high seven assists.

The victory marks Pittsburgh's 13th of the season and improves its record to 13-8 overall and 4-6 in Big East play.

The Panthers return to action Wednesday, Feb. 9, when they travel to fifth-ranked Notre Dame.