Pittsburgh Women's Basketball Prepares For Ohio
12/3/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Pittsburgh Women's Basketball Prepares For Ohio
12/3/1999
All-Time Series
The matchup between Pittsburgh and Ohio marks the first-ever between the two schools. The Panthers, though, are no stranger to the Mid-American Conference (MAC). They have played 23 games versus MAC teams and hold a 14-9 record against the league. The Panthers' record against MAC schools is as follows: Kent (8-4), Eastern Michigan (2-2), Akron (1-0), Miami (Ohio) (1-0), Ball State (1-0), Marshall (1-1) and Toledo (0-2).
Scouting Ohio
Ohio heads into tonight's game with a 1-2 record. The Bobcats opened the season with a 93-63 loss to Evansville and a 69-63 defeat to Princeton. They captured their first victory of the season with a 70-69 win over UNC- Wilmington Nov. 27 when Cathy Szall hit the game-winning basket with four seconds remaining.
Ohio returns four starters and 10 letterwinners from a squad that went 4-22 last season. Included among the returning starters are 6-2 center Amber Bruce, 6-0 forward Lisa Hindenlang, 5-7 guard Heather Laughlin and 5-8 guard Ronita Whitfield.
Road Rules
A key for the Panthers this season will be their ability to bring home victories when they are on the road. Pittsburgh has already doubled its total number of victories from last year in away contests this season. The Panthers are 2-0 with wins over Robert Morris and Cincinnati already under their belt.
The Panthers struggled on the road last season, winning only one contest out of 13. Their only victory came in a 53-46 decision over Wake Forest Dec. 21 in the Oakland Tribune Classic.
Today's Probable Starting Lineups
Ohio Bobcats
| F | #20 | Lori Moorman (6-0, So.) | 11.0 ppg., 5.7 rpg. |
| G | #22 | Heather Laughlin (5-7, Jr.) | 9.3, ppg., 2.7, rpg. |
| G | #23 | Jacquie Negrelli (5-7, So.) | 16.0, ppg., 5.5, rpg. |
| G | #30 | Beckie Fischer (5-7, Fr.) | 4.0 ppg., 2.7 rpg. |
| G | #33 | Cathy Szall (5-8, So.) | 15.3, ppg., 1.7, rpg. |
Pittsburgh Panthers
| F | #32 | Dallas Williams (6-0, Fr.) | 6.3 ppg., 4.5 rpg. |
| F | #50 | Mandy Wittenmyer (6-2, Fr.) | 10.5 ppg., 8.0 rpg. |
| C | #40 | Nickeia Morris (6-7, Sr.) | 9.3, ppg., 8.8, rpg. |
| G | #42 | Laine Selwyn (5-7, Fr.) | 7.0 ppg., 1.8 rpg. |
| G | #24 | Monique Toney (5-5, Jr.) | 13.8, ppg., 2.8, rpg. |
Pittsburgh Head Coach
Traci Waites is in her second season as head coach at Pittsburgh where she has compiled a 11-19 overall record. During her debut last season, Waites sent the Panthers on a dramatic 4-0 run to start the year, a feat that had not been accomplished since the 1982-83 season. She additionally led Pittsburgh to eight victories on the year, marking two more than it achieved in all of the prior season.
Waites joined the Panthers after serving four seasons at the University of Arizona 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.
Ohio Head Coach
Lynn Bria is in her first season as head coach of the Ohio women's basketball program. Prior to her appointment, she spent three seasons (1996-99) at the University of Central Florida, where she compiled a 50-36 record. Under her direction last season, the Golden Knights finished with a 20-10 overall record, captured both the Trans America Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. It was the first TAAC Championship in school history and UCF's second-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Bria also served as head coach at Texas Women's University from 1993-96. Additionally, Bria was an assistant coach at Marshall for two years and Radford for one. Bria is a 1990 graduate of the University of Charleston.
A Perfect Mark
Pittsburgh held an undefeated 3-0 record through the month of November with its wins over Lafayette (80-43), Robert Morris (63-45) and Cincinnati (58-55). With their perfect record through the month, the Panthers ranked as one of only two teams in the Big East Conference to boast an undefeated record through November. The other was Connecticut with a 4-0 record.
Second Comings
The Panthers have come out of intermission refocused and on a swift pace in each game this season. In their contests with Robert Morris and Cincinnati, they have rallied from a first-half deficit to come away with a victory. Additionally, the Panthers have outscored their opponents 148-113 after intermission.
Against Robert Morris, Pittsburgh trailed by only one point, 28-27, but began the second half on an 11-2 run by capitalizing on 10 Colonial turnovers to go on to the eventual win. The Panthers outscored Robert Morris, 36-17, in the second half.
The Panthers had a similar situation at Cincinnati. After trailing 30-27 at intermission, Pittsburgh went on a 12-2 surge through the initial five minutes of the period to take a seven-point advantage.
Defensive Specialists
So far this season, the Panthers have stuck to their motto of discipline and defense and it has paid off in the won-loss column.
The Panthers have been very strong in defending their opponents shots. They are holding their opponents to just 34.1 percent (78-of-229) shooting from the field and 28.2 percent (20-of-71) from 3-point range, ranking second and fifth in the Big East, respectively. In contrast, Pittsburgh is shooting 46.5 percent (106-of-228) overall and 34.0 (16-of-47) from behind the arc.
Solid on the Boards
The Panthers have strongly established themselves on the boards so far this season, outrebounding each of their opponents. Through the first four games, the Panthers are grabbing 41.0 boards to their opponents 33.0 per game.
Pittsburgh's largest rebounding margin came with a plus-12 advantage (46-34) against Lafayette in the season-opener. Against Robert Morris, the Panthers grabbed 42 rebounds to the Colonials' 34 and at Cincinnati they had 37 to the Bearcats' 32.
The Panthers still managed a plus-seven rebounding margin in their loss to Kent with 39-32 boards. Despite committing 19 turnovers in the first half of the game, Pittsburgh had 24 rebounds to the Golden Flashes' 13.
Seeing Double
Pittsburgh's starting lineup has been a large contributor to Pittsburgh's recent success. The Panthers have placed at least two of their starters in double-figures for points or rebounds in every game.
Against Kent on Dec. 1, four of Pittsburgh's starters posted double-digit scoring totals, including Mandy Wittenmyer who had a double-double with 12 rebounds and 10 points. Also in double-digits were Nickeia Morris and Gina Montesano with 14 points apiece, and Monique Toney who had 12 points. In that game, the starting lineup accounted for 50 of the 68 points scored.
Down the Stretch
The Panthers have remained focused in the final minutes of each game this season and their intensity has proven to be a factor in the past two games.
Trailing by three against Cincinnati with under a minute to go in the game, freshman Laine Selwyn hit a 3-pointer at the 15- second mark to tie the game. Monique Toney came up big just moments later sinking another 3-pointer with five seconds on the clock to win the game, 58-55.
Pittsburgh showed its composure through the wanning minutes of the game against Kent, but the outcome was not as desirable. The Panthers began to rally from a 14-point deficit with 1:50 to go in the game to pull within five with 53 seconds to go on three 3-pointers. Brooke Stewart hit back-to-back treys while Monique Toney hit one of her own. The Panthers, however, could not pull any closer and ultimately fell to Kent.
Freshmen Impact
This season's freshmen have made an immediate impact. The youngest class has accounted for almost half (45.3 percent) of Pittsburgh's scoring this season. They have 122-of-269 total points scored this year. The freshmen's largest scoring output came with 43 of 80 points against Lafayette.
Pittsburgh's frosh have also been solid on the boards. The freshmen are grabbing 50.6 percent (83-of-164) of the Panthers' rebounds.
Additionally, two freshmen have emerged in the starting rotation. Forward Mandy Wittenmyer earned the nod in each game along with Dallas Williams. Wittenmyer is averaging 10.5 points per game, while Williams is contributing 6.3 points.
Successful Openers
The Panthers have a strong history of success in their season-openers. With the 80-43 rout of Lafayette Nov. 21, Pittsburgh increased its overall mark in opening contests to 19-7 and 13-3 at Fitzgerald. Additionally, the 37-point victory over the Leopards stands tied for the Panthers fifth-largest margin of victory over an opponent in the 25-year history of the program. Pittsburgh's largest margin of victory came in a 109-45 win over Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Dec. 12, 1975.
Following is a breakdown of Pittsburgh's largest victories:
| Date | Opponent | Score | Margin |
| 12-12-75 | IUP | 109-45 | 64 pts. |
| 12-6-74 | Duquesne | 91-32 | 59 pts. |
| 11-22-83 | Fairmont State | 100-55 | 45 pts. |
| 11-14-98 | Robert Morris | 89-49 | 40 pts. |
| 12-2-77 | Temple | 77-40 | 37 pts. |
| 11-21-99 | Lafayette | 80-43 | 37 pts. |
Putting Points on the Board
The Panthers' recent success on the court can be attributed to many factors, but most importantly, scoring. Pittsburgh is averaging 67.3 points per game, almost eight more than last year's 59.6 average, to help it start the season on a 3-1 run. Prior to the low-scoring contest with Cincinnati (58-55), the Panthers' numbers had been even more impressive. They were averaging 71.5 points.
In contrast, Pittsburgh is allowing its opponents just 54.8 points per game for a plus-12.5 margin, which ranks third in the Big East.
Tough Slate
Pittsburgh has 13 home games on its slate this year, the most since the 1996-97 season when it had 15 home contests.
The Panthers will also face some tough competition on their schedule, including six teams which advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 1998-99.
Additionally, five of Pittsburgh's opponents are ranked in the USAToday/ESPN Coaches and Associated Press polls, including Connecticut, Notre Dame, Rutgers, Penn State and Boston College.
Three of the Panthers' ranked opponents are members of the Big East Conference to make the league the only one to have three members included in the Associated Press Top 10.
Pittsburgh Ranked Opponents
Connecticut (First - AP and USAToday/ESPN)
Notre Dame (Sixth/AP, Eighth USAToday/ESPN)
Rutgers (Eighth/AP, Seventh USAToday/ESPN)
Penn State (Ninth/AP, 11th USAToday/ESPN)
Boston College (18th/AP, 22nd USAToday/ESPN)
Non-conference Foes
The Panthers play a 12-game non-conference schedule in 1999-2000 which began Nov. 21 against Lafayette. The slate includes 8th-ranked (USA Today/ESPN) Penn State and Cincinnati, and they will play eight games prior to Christmas. Following the holiday break, the Panthers travel to Atlanta for the Georgia Tech Tournament, where the field includes the host Yellow Jackets, Campbell and Western Michigan.
Last season, the Panthers were 5-4 overall against non-confernce foes, including an impressive 3-0 mark on their home court. Their home wins included decisions over Robert Morris, Miami (Ohio) and an upset-win over Penn State.
New Faces
Pittsburgh will have one of the youngest lineups in the Big East Conference when they take the court in 1999- 2000. The Panthers welcome eight new faces to their lineup this year, including five freshmen who all will vie for time in the lineup.
Pittsburgh also boasts two junior college transfers in Autumn Alexander and Celeste Barkley, as well as Bettina Love, a transfer from Old Dominion, to complement the six returnees from 1998-99. (Love will be ineligible this season due to the NCAA transfer rule.)
Panther Player Notes
Mandy Madness
Pittsburgh freshman Mandy Wittenmyer has made her mark in the Panthers' lineup this season. The 6-2 forward from Mechanicsburg, Pa., is the team's second-leading scorer and rebounder with her 10.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game.
Wittenmyer has started every game this season and has impressed. She has posted a double-digit scoring effort in three of four games this season. Most recently, Wittenmyer contributed the only double-double performance of the game against Kent with her 10 points and 12 rebounds. She put up a 12-point effort against Lafayette, while adding five assists and six rebounds, and chipped in a 14-point effort at Cincinnati.
Dazzling Dallas
Freshman Dallas Williams has dazzled the Panthers' coaching staff so far this season and earned herself a spot in the starting rotation. The Mason, Ohio native, came off the bench in Pittsburgh's first exhibition contest before receiving the starting nod against the Premier All-Stars when she had eight points and six rebounds. Williams chipped in another eight points in the first official start of her career against Lafayette in 21 minutes of play.
Against Robert Morris she continued her stellar play and was the Panthers' second-leading scorer with nine points and seven rebounds in a season-high 30 minutes of action.
Williams, a two-time Cincinnati Player of the Year out of Mason High, also had an impressive performance in front of her home crowd against Cincinnati. She contributed eight points and six rebounds.
Motorin' Monique
Junior Monique Toney has been one of the Panthers' most vocal leaders on the court this season, but she has also led the team by example as well. After averaging 10.6 points per game last season, the 5-5 guard has increased her scoring output to 13.8 points to make her Pittsburgh's top offensive threat. Additionally, she has scored in double-figures each game and is averaging 4.3 assists.
After posting an 11-point effort in the opener, Toney went on to spark a second-half rally against Robert Morris Nov. 24 to lead the Panthers to a 63-45 victory. Pittsburgh trailed 28-27 at halftime, but Toney scored 13 of her 18 points in the second half for the comeback win.
Toney had another clutch performance at Cincinnati Nov. 28 when she hit the game-winning 3-pointer with just five seconds remaining to break a tie and give Pittsburgh the 58-55 win. She added another 12 points against Kent.
Lovely Laine
Although she is only a freshman, Laine Selwyn has already produced one of Pittsburgh's top clutch performances this season. Against Cincinnati, Selwyn tied the score at 55 apiece with her 3-pointer with just 15 seconds remaining on the clock. Not only did she hit the game-tying shot, but the freshman guard recorded a key steal on Cincinnati's ensuing possession to give Pittsburgh the ball back and allow for Monique Toney's game-winning 3-pointer.
Selwyn had eight points on the day versus the Bearcats to go along with three rebounds and two steals. She added another eight-point effort against Kent with six assists and for the season, she is averaging 7.0 points and 2.3 assists and 1.8 rebounds.
Familiar Face
Local Pittsburgh fans may recognize a familiar face in the Panthers' lineup in Brooke Stewart. The 5-8 guard is an area fan-favorite and product of East Allegheny High School. Stewart, who finished her high school career with over 3,000 points, averaged 29.0 points in her career and 31.2 as a senior.
Through the Panthers' first four games, Stewart is averaging 5.0 points and 2.0 rebounds in 13 minutes of play. She sank a season-high eight points versus Lafayette in her first collegiate game, while adding three rebounds and two assists. Most recently she had six points versus Kent on two 3-pointers.
Noting Nickeia
Returning for her senior campaign is 6-7 center Nickeia Morris. The tallest women's basketball player in Pittsburgh history is back in the starting lineup after being the Panthers' leading rebounder and scorer last season. She averaged 13.1 points and 8.2 rebounds as a junior and saw 30.4 minutes of action.
Morris took home her first double-double of the 1999-2000 season with a game-high 11 rebounds and 11 points versus Lafayette and added 10 rebounds and six points against Robert Morris.
She is currently averaging 9.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. She also has contributed a team-high 11 blocks to rank her second in the Big East.
Magical Morris
Morris will be one Pittsburgh player to watch this season. She entered her senior campaign ranked 10th in Pittsburgh's annals with 533 career rebounds and has already moved into the ninth spot with 27 boards this season. Her 8.8 rebounds per game rank her sixth in the Big East. Last season, she had 222 on the season and finished the year ranked fourth in the Big East.
Morris is already off to a quick start this season, and if she matches her numbers from 1998-99, she will rank among the top seven rebounders in Pittsburgh history when she completes her career.
Career Rebound Leaders
| Name | Total | Morris Needs |
| 1. Wanda Randolph | 1,107 | 540 |
| 2. Gail Aughburns | 1,007 | 440 |
| 3. Jennifer Bruce | 998 | 431 |
| 4. Pam Miklasevich | 968 | 401 |
| 5. Jonna Huemrich | 954 | 387 |
| 6. Lorri Johnson | 908 | 341 |
| 7. Latia Howard | 664 | 97 |
| 8. Sally Sheerer | 580 | 13 |
| 9. Nickeia Morris | 568 |
Pittsburgh's Record in Games This Year When...
| Led at Halftime: | 1-0 |
| Trailed at Halftime: | 2-1 |
| Tied at Halftime: | 0-0 |
| Had a 45 FG% or better: | 2-1 |
| Had less than 45 FG%: | 1-0 |
| Opponents had a 45 FG% or better: | 0-0 |
| Held opponents to less than 45 FG%: | 3-1 |
| Outrebounded opponent: | 3-1 |
| Been outrebounded by opponent: | 0-0 |
| Tied an opponent in rebounding: | 0-0 |
| Had 70 FT% or better: | 0-0 |
| Had less than a 70 FT%: | 3-1 |
| Scored in the 40s: | 0-0 |
| Scored in the 50s: | 1-0 |
| Scored in the 60s: | 1-1 |
| Scored in the 70s: | 0-0 |
| Scored in the 80s: | 1-0 |
| Scored in the 90s: | 0-0 |
| Scored in the 100s: | 0-0 |
| Opponents have scored in the 40s: | 2-0 |
| Opponents have scored in the 50s: | 1-0 |
| Opponents have scored in the 60s: | 0-0 |
| Opponents have scored in the 70s: | 0-1 |
| Opponents have scored in the 80s: | 0-0 |
| Opponents have scored in the 90s: | 0-0 |
| Opponents have scored in the 100s: | 0-0 |
"The Traci Waites Show"
This season Pittsburgh fans have the opportunity to keep up with the Panthers and Head Coach Traci Waites on the weekly "Traci Waites Show." Pittsburgh's own WPTS 92.1 FM will host the first-ever women's basketball coach's radio show on Thursdays from 4:30-5 p.m. Coach Waites and host Patrick Robertson will discuss the team's progress and its upcoming opponents. Special guest appearances will also be made from select Panther players throughout the year.
NOTE: The "Traci Waites Show" will not air on Dec. 23 and 30 due to holiday breaks.
The Home of the Panthers...
WPTS 92.1 FM will also carry every Panther home game over the airwaves. You can tune in at game time to hear all of the excitement at Fitzgerald Field House - the home of Pittsburgh Basketball. Stay tuned at the conclusion of each game for live interviews from Pittsburgh players and coaches.
1999-2000 Pittsburgh Highs
--- T E A M H I G H S ---
| POINTS | 80 | vs LAFAYETTE | 11/21/99 |
| FG Made | 35 | vs LAFAYETTE | 11/21/99 |
| FG Att. | 68 | vs LAFAYETTE | 11/21/99 |
| FG % | .515 (35-68) | vs LAFAYETTE | 11/21/99 |
| 3 PT FG Made | 6 | vs KENT | 12/1/99 |
| 3 PT FG Att. | 17 | vs KENT | 12/1/99 |
| 3 PT FG % | .375 (3-8) | at Cincinnati | 11/28/99 |
| FT Made | 16 | vs KENT | 12/1/99 |
| FT Att. | 25 | vs KENT | 12/1/99 |
| FT % | .667 (14-21) | at Robert Morris | 11/24/99 |
| REBOUNDS | 46 | vs LAFAYETTE | 11/21/99 |
| ASSISTS | 27 | vs LAFAYETTE | 11/21/99 |
| STEALS | 11 | at Robert Morris | 11/24/99 |
| BLOCKED SHOTS | 6 | vs LAFAYETTE | 11/21/99 |
| TURNOVERS | 36 | vs KENT | 12/1/99 |
| FOULS | 23 | vs KENT | 12/1/99 |
--- T E A M L O W S ---
| POINTS | 58 | at Cincinnati | 11/28/99 |
| FG Made | 23 | at Robert Morris | 11/24/99 |
| 23 | vs KENT | 12/1/99 | |
| FG Att. | 54 | at Cincinnati | 11/28/99 |
| FG % | .390 (23-59) | at Robert Morris | 11/24/99 |
| 3 PT FG Made | 3 | at Robert Morris | 11/24/99 |
| 3 | at Cincinnati | 11/28/99 | |
| 3 PT FG Att. | 8 | at Cincinnati | 11/28/99 |
| 3 PT FG % | .300 (3-10) | at Robert Morris | 11/24/99 |
| FT Made | 5 | at Cincinnati | 11/28/99 |
| FT Att. | 10 | at Cincinnati | 11/28/99 |
| FT % | .375 (6-16) | vs LAFAYETTE | 11/21/99 |
| REBOUNDS | 37 | at Cincinnati | 11/28/99 |
| ASSISTS | 9 | at Cincinnati | 11/28/99 |
| STEALS | 5 | at Cincinnati | 11/28/99 |
| 5 | vs KENT | 12/1/99 | |
| BLOCKED SHOTS | 3 | at Robert Morris | 11/24/99 |
| 3 | at Cincinnati | 11/28/99 | |
| 3 | vs KENT | 12/1/99 | |
| TURNOVERS | 16 | vs LAFAYETTE | 11/21/99 |
| 16 | at Robert Morris | 11/24/99 | |
| FOULS | 15 | vs LAFAYETTE | 11/21/99 |
| 15 | at Robert Morris | 11/24/99 |
