Pitt
Kent State
Women's Hoops Squad Suffers First Loss Of Season
12/1/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 1, 1999
PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh women's basketball team suffered its first loss of the season, 76-68, to visiting Kent tonight at Fitzgerald Field House. The loss dropped the Panthers' record to 3-1 overall.
Pittsburgh could not overcome 36 turnovers or a 22-point effort from Kent guard Dawn Zerman in the loss.
"I am disappointed by the loss, but I have a lot of respect for Kent," said Head Coach Traci Waites. "We relaxed a little and they kept pressing. We thought they may sit back a little but they didn't. It was a good learning experience for our players and it will help them get better.
"The good thing about the game was we did not quit. We came back to cut their lead, but could not pull it out. The effort was definitely there."
Despite 19 first-half turnovers, the Panthers trailed by only one, 27-26, at intermission. Pittsburgh began the half on a 10-3 run before the Golden Flashes put up a 10-2 run of their own to take their first lead of the game, 13-12, and had as much as a six-point advantage before settling on a one-point halftime lead.
Pittsburgh gained its only advantage of the second half when a free throw from freshman guard Laine Selwyn (Coral Springs, Fla./Coral Springs) put the Panthers ahead, 33-32, at the 16:04 mark. The Golden Flashes rallied with a 16-6 run to gain a 48-39 lead with 10:44 to go. Pittsburgh, however, chipped away at Kent's lead, ultimately pulling within four at 6:21off Monique Toney's (Yorba Linda, Calif./Cerritos Valley Christian) 3-pointer. But Kent responded with 11 straight points to go ahead, 65-50, with 4:41 left. The Panthers closed to 73-68 with under a minute to go, but could not get any closer.
Four of Pittsburgh's starters scored in double-figures, including seniors Gina Montesano (Rochester, N.Y./Mercy) and Nickeia Morris (Cincinnati, Ohio/Western Hills), who each had 14. Toney had 12 points, while also adding four assists. Freshman Mandy Wittenmyer (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) chipped in a 10-point, 12-rebound effort for the first double-double of her career.
Pittsburgh returns to action Saturday, Dec. 4 when it hosts Ohio at Fitzgerald Field House. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
