Panthers Prepare for Buckeyes
12/1/1998 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Panthers Prepare for Buckeyes
12/1/1998
Series History
Tonight's game marks the 12th meeting between Ohio State and Pittsburgh in a series that dates back to 1974-75. The Buckeyes lead the all-time series, 8-3, and have won eight of the last nine meetings. The two teams last met Dec. 18, 1996 when the Buckeyes won a 66-54 decision at Fitzgerald Field House. The Panthers' last win over Ohio State came in a 65-58 victory in 1980-81.
The Coaches
Traci Waites is 4-0 in her first season as the head coach of the Panthers. Waites joined the Panthers after serving the University of Arizona the prior four seasons as an assistant coach, including the last two as associate head coach. While there, Waites was instrumental in the Wildcats' emergence as a Top 10 program, helping them to three straight 20-win seasons and two NCAA Tournament berths.
Prior to Arizona, Waites was the head coach at Santa Monica Community College in Santa Monica, Calif., from 1993-94 after serving the program as an assistant for three years. During her tenure, Waites' teams finished second in the Western States Conference and qualified for the state playoffs each year.
Waites enjoyed an outstanding collegiate playing career, first at Georgia and then at Long Beach State. She played in the NCAA Tournament each of her four seasons and went to two Final Fours. She holds the distinction of being the only player to appear in the Final Four for two different teams.
BETH BURNS is in her second season at Ohio State, where she is 17-14 overall. In her 10th year as a head coach, Burns has compiled a 168-96 career mark.
Prior to Ohio State, Burns served as the head coach at San Diego State for eight seasons. There, she ranked as the winningest coach in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) with an overall mark of 151-82.
During her tenure, Burns was a three-time recipient of the WAC Coach of the Year award, and her teams won three WAC championships. Burns is a native of Chatham, N.J.
A Quarter Century: The 1998-99 season marks the 25th women's basketball season in Pittsburgh history. Pittsburgh has an all-time mark of 339-334, including two NWIT Tournament berths.
Pittsburgh Streaks: Pittsburgh's 4-0 record this season marks the first time in 16 seasons the Panthers have opened with four victories. The last time this occurred was during the 1982-83 season when the Panthers opened with a 5-0 record, which included wins over Fairmont State (79-59), Ohio University (98-78), National College (93-39), Kent State (59-58) and Akron (72-63).
The Panthers' most recent victory over Penn State is also one to note. The win was Pittsburgh's third of the season and the first time the Panthers had beaten the Lady Lions in the last decade. Pittsburgh's victory marked their first over Penn State since the 1988-89 season when they won a 74-70 decision at State College. It was also Pittsburgh's first win over Penn State at Fitzgerald Field House since 1982-83.
Season Openers: The Panthers opened their season for the 15th time in 25 seasons at home Nov. 14. The victory over Robert Morris improved Pittsburgh's record in home openers to 12-3 and 18-7 overall.
Panther Pride: Pittsburgh opened the 1998-99 season on the right track, capturing its own Pittsburgh Panther Invitational. The Panthers have hosted the Invitational 17 times in the past, but this season's championship marks the Panthers' first since the 1994-95 season.
Panther Points: The Panthers opened their season with an 89-49 rout over crosstown-rival Robert Morris. The 89 points scored in the game were Pittsburgh's most since an 89-77 overtime victory over Gonzaga in the first round of the National Women's Invitational Tournament during the 1993-94 season.
Discipline and Defense: This season, the Panthers are looking to be more consistent and place an emphasis on discipline and defense, both on and off the court. Evidenced by the Panthers' recent victories, the new focus is beginning to pay off. In the win over Penn State, Pittsburgh forced 27 turnovers, including 14 in the second half.
In the Pittsburgh Panther Invitational, the Panthers forced a combined 46 turnovers (23 in each game), including 15 in the first half of the victory over Robert Morris. Pittsburgh is forcing an average of 22.8 turnovers per game.
Player Notes
Balich's Best: Senior Alecia Balich has been strong for the Panthers this season. The 6-1 forward has averaged 13.3 points and 6.8 rebounds in Pittsburgh's four victories.
Balich registered her first double-double performance of the season against Miami (Ohio) with 13 points and a team-high 10 rebounds.
Balich led the Panthers against Penn State with a game and career-high 20 points. She also added eight rebounds.
Magical Morris: Junior Nickeia Morris returns this season as the Panthers' lone center. Standing 6-7, Morris is one of the tallest women's basketball players in school history.
This season, Morris has been exceptional in her starting role. She earned Most Valuable Player honors in Pittsburgh's Invitational, and is averaging 15.3 points and 10 rebounds per game.
Terrific Toney: Monique Toney, Pittsburgh's lone sophomore, emerged as a solid point guard in her freshman campaign. Toney saw action in all 27 of the Panthers' games, and led the team in assists (72) and steals (32).
This season, Toney has come off the bench in Pittsburgh's four victories and is third on the team avergaing 9.8 points per game. The 5-5 guard is also averaging 3.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. In the Nov. 24 victory over Richmond, Toney tallied a season-high 14 points and added three rebounds.
Wonder Webb: Senior Kortni Webb, who contributed off the bench for the Panthers' last season is taking on a larger role this year. In this season's first three contests, Webb stepped into a starting role for the Panthers and performed well.
The 6-2 forward averaged 12.5 points during the Pittsburgh Panther Invitational, including a career- high 19 points versus Robert Morris.
Webb was solid in the Panthers' win over Richmond Nov. 24, pulling down a team-high (tie) 10 boards.
Seeing Doubles: Nickeia Morris has scored in double-digits in each of Pittsburgh's games this season. She tallied 18 points in contests versus Miami (Ohio) and Robert Morris, 10 against Penn State and registered 15 versus Richmond.
Morris also leads the Panthers with three double-double performances. She has recorded double- figures for rebounds in contests with Robert Morris (10), Penn State (13) and Richmond (10).
Kat Walk: A spot starter last season, junior Michelle Katkowski has jumped into the Panthers' starting lineup on a full-time basis this season. In her most impressive performance this season, the 5-6 guard scored a career-high 20 points in Pittsburgh's victory over Miami (Ohio). In the second half of the contest, Katkowski sparked a key 22-4 run for the Panthers.
Blanton Blast: Pittsburgh's starting point guard, senior LaTonya Blanton is leading the Panthers in assists this season. One of Pittsburgh's chief playmakers, Blanton is averaging 5.0 assists per game.
Last season, Blanton was a spot starter and was second on the team with 70 assists (2.9 per game).
Receiving Charity: Senior Alecia Balich is a perfect 18-of-18 from the free throw line this season. In Pittsburgh's win over Penn State Nov. 18, Balich hit 8-of-8 from the charity stripe in the final minutes of the game to give the Panthers' a 49-46 edge.
Morris Block Party: Nickeia Morris ranks among the school's best shot-blockers. Last weekend, Morris moved into the top 10 on Pittsburgh's career blocked shot leaders list. Morris recorded three blocks in the Pittsburgh Panther Invitational and against Penn State. She added another three in the victory over Richmond.
Following is a list of career blocked shot leaders:
PANTHER CAREER BLOCKED SHOT LEADERS No. Name Blocks Morris Needs
1. Gail Aughburns. 241 . . 149
2. Wanda Randolf . 211 . . 119
3. Jennifer Bruce. 203 . . 111
4. Connie Hurt . . 189 . . 97
5. Kim Tirik . . . 170 . . 78
6. Jill McElhinny. 162 . . 70
7. Jennifer Shingler. . 147. . .55
8. Pam Miklasevich. . . 142. . .50
9. Lisa Fubio. . . 136 . . 44
10. NICKEIA MORRIS. 93
On Board with Morris: Nickeia Morris looks to jump into Pittsburgh's Top 20 career rebound leaders list as a junior. Morris led the Panthers with 211 (8.4 rpg.) rebounds, including 141 in Big East play last season. As a freshman in 1996-97, Morris recorded 100 (3.6 rpg.) rebounds, 50 of which came in conference play. She currently has 351 (6.2 rpg.) career rebounds and needs two rebounds to rank 20th on the all-time list.
Following is a list of career rebound leaders:
PANTHER CAREER REBOUND LEADERS No. Name Rebounds Morris Needs
1. Wanda Randolf . .1,107. . . 757
2. Gail Aughburns. .1,007. . . 657
3. Jennifer Bruce. .998 648
4. Pam Miklasevich .968 . 618
5. Jonna Huemrich. .954 . 604
6. Lorri Johnson . .908 . 558
7. Latia Howard. . .664 . 314
8. Sally Sheerer . .580 . 230
9. Connie Hurt. 551 . 201
10. Penny Welsh. 513 . 163
11. Jenine Joyce. . .462 . 112
12. Turia Ransom. . .461 . 111
13. Tabatha Long. . .458 . 108
14. Melissa Thompson.451 . 101
15. Carolyn Miller. .449 . 99
16. Jill McElhinny. .435 . 85
17. Kit Loeffler. . .395 . 45
18. Barbara Welsh . .393 . 43
19. Ellen Gilholley .365 . 14
20. Kim Tirik 352 . . 2
Free Shots: The Panthers' have taken advantage of the their trips to the charity stripe this season. Pittsburgh has converted 65 percent (62-of-96) of its shots from the free throw line.
Pittsburgh's top free-thow shooters this season by percentage are Alecia Balich (100 percent, 18-of-18), Monique Toney (88 percent, 14-of-16) and Kortni Webb (67 percent, 10-of-15).
Clutch Performances: The Panthers have been solid from the free throw line in the waining minutes of the game this season. In the final two minutes of the game, Pittsburgh is 18-28 (64 percent) from the free throw line. This has been particularly important in close games. Forward Alecia Balich sealed the Panthers' 49-46 victory over Penn State, sinking 4-of-4 free throws in the final 1:17. In Pittsburgh's most recent win over Richmond, sophomore Monique Toney hit two free throws in the last 15 seconds to pull ahead 69-66.