Women's Basketball Captures Holiday Invitational Title
12/30/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Women's Basketball Captures Holiday Invitational Title
12/30/1999
PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh women's basketball team captured the Georgia Tech/Atlanta Marriott Northwest Holiday Invitational with a 75-69 victory over the host Yellow Jackets today at O'Keefe Gymnasium.
Freshman forward Mandy Wittenmyer (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley), who had a game-high 17 points, was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player and junior Monique Toney (Yorba Linda, Calif./Cerritos Valley Christian) earned all-tournament team honors.
The victory improved Pittsburgh's overall record to 8-3, already matching its win total from all of last season. It is also Pittsburgh's best start since the 1994-95 season when the Panthers finished 17-11 and advanced to the Women's National Invitation Tournament.
"This is an incredible win because we already matched our win total from last year," said second- year head coach Traci Waites. "Georgia Tech came out strong in the first half and didn't quit. But we made some excellent decisions in the end."
Wittenmyer scored 14 of her points in the second half to help the Panthers overcome a 42-37 halftime deficit. She added a team-high seven rebounds and one steal in 31 minutes of action.
The score was tied at 55 when a Nickeia Morris (Cincinnati, Ohio/Western Hills) layup put Pittsburgh ahead for good, 57-55, with 8:47 remaining. The Panthers upped their advantage to as many as eight (67-59) before holding off a late Georgia Tech (8-3 overall) charge by hitting eight free throws in the final 31 seconds.
Wittenmyer led four Panther players who scored in double figures. Other leading Pittsburgh leading scorers included Morris with 16 points, Toney with 13 and Brooke Stewart (North Versailles, Pa./East Allegheny) with 10.
The Panthers host crosstown-rival Duquesne Jan. 1 at Fitzgerald Field House. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.
