Pittsburgh Routs Lafayette In Season Opener, 80-43
11/21/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Pittsburgh Routs Lafayette In Season Opener, 80-43
11/21/2000
PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Panthers women's basketball team placed three starters in double-figures as it rolled to an 80-43 win over Lafayette Nov. 21 in its season-opener at Fitzgerald Field House.
Senior center Nickeia Morris (Cincinnati, Ohio/Western Hills) scored 11 points, grabbed 11 rebounds while also adding five blocks, for her first double-double of the season. Freshman forward Mandy Wittenmyer (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) chipped in a team-high 12 points for Pittsburgh, while junior guard Monique Toney (Yorba Linda, Calif./Cerritos Valley Christian) added 11 points of her own.
The Panthers held an 11-9 advantage four minutes into the first half. But a 17-4 run gave them a 15-point (28-13) lead at the 8:45 mark and Lafayette was unable to recover. Throughout the run, Pittsburgh held the Leopards without a basket for just over four minutes. The Panthers held on to carry a 41-21 advantage into halftime.
Pittsburgh continued its strong play in the second half, widening its lead to 36 with 7:58 remaining with a 10-4 run, to hold on for the win.
The Panthers capitalized on 23 Lafayette turnovers, compared to 16 of their own, and forced the Leopards into 29 percent (17-of-59) shooting from the field, including 12.5 percent (1-of-8) from 3-point range. From the field, Pittsburgh shot 51.5 percent (35-of-68) and 33.3 percent (4-of-12) from behind the arc. The Panthers were also solid on the boards, outrebounding the Leopards, 46-34.
Pittsburgh, 1-0 on the season, takes to the road for its next two games. It travels to Robert Morris, Wednesday, Nov. 24 for a 5 p.m. contest and Cincinnati, Sunday, Nov. 28 for a 3 p.m. tip-off.
