PROVIDENCE – Sparked by a career night by sophomore Danielle Taylor, Pittsburgh’s women’s basketball team closed its regular-season slate on a positive note as it defeated Providence, 80-43, on Monday night at Alumni Hall. The Panthers (13-14, 5-11 Big East) enter the Big East Tournament as either the No. 10 or No. 11 seed, depending on the outcome of the Syracuse-Georgetown game on Tuesday night.

Taylor finished with her first career double-double, posting personal-bests of 20 points and 10 rebounds. She hit 8-of-13 shots from the field and also added four steals in 29 minutes.

Two other Panthers tallied double-doubles as well, including sophomore Jennifer Brown and Cheron Taylor. Brown finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds while Taylor added 10 points and 12 boards.

Providence led 17-14 with 7:46 remaining in the first half as Allie Gard drained a 3-pointer. However, Pittsburgh scored 15 of the final 17 points of the half and grabbed a 29-19 lead at the break.

The Panthers poured it on in the second half thanks to a 20-5 run to start the second half. They were never challenged the rest of the game.

Pittsburgh shot 48 percent (34 of 71) from the field, including 61 percent (22 of 36) in the second half. Providence finished 31 percent (17 of 55) from the field.

Jessica Allen hit four 3-pointers and totaled 14 points for the game.

Kristein Brown tallied a double-double to lead Providence, finishing with 11 points and 11 boards.

The Panthers will play at either 6 p.m. or 8 p.m. on Saturday night in the first round of the Big East Tournament on Saturday at the Hartford Civic Center.

NOTES: Pittsburgh finished with more assists (20) than turnovers (11) for just the fourth time this season…the Panthers’ three double-doubles marked the second time this year they have had three in one game (Penn State)…the 37-point victory was the largest Pittsburgh win in Big East play since defeating Georgetown, 90-50, on Jan. 26, 1985…it also was the biggest Panthers’ win since beating Robert Morris, 90-51, on Nov. 22, 2002…Pittsburgh played without its top two scorers, Marcedes Walker (13.3 avg.) and Katie Histed (11.4).