Pitt
UC Irvine
Panthers Fall to UC-Irvine, 74-70
12/28/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 28, 2000
IRVINE, CA - The Pittsburgh women's basketball team lost a close game at California-Irvine, falling to the Anteaters, 74-70, tonight at the Bren Events Center.
The Panthers rallied from a 14-point halftime deficit and grabbed a 56-55 lead with a 3-pointer by sophomore Brooke Stewart (North Versailles, Pa./East Allegheny) at 9:56 of the second half. A layup by senior Monique Toney (Yorba Linda, Calif./Cerritos Valley Christian) extended Pittsburgh's lead to three at the 8:55 mark. But two field goals by UCI gave the Anteaters the lead again for good with 7:32 remaining in the game. The Panthers pulled within one, 61-60, moments later, but could draw no closer.
UCI held a 45-31 advantage at intermission. The Anteaters jumped out early with a 7-2 lead at the 16:58 mark of the first half. Pittsburgh pulled out in front, 15-14, with a jumper by junior Jackie Campbell (Munroe Falls, Ohio/Stow-Munroe) at 12:59. The lead traded hands twice with field goals by both teams within the next minute, but a 3-pointer by Wendy Gabbe gave UCI the lead for the remainder of the half.
The Panthers played aggressively, making 17 steals to the Anteaters' five on the night. But Pittsburgh was outrebounded, 36-26, with their lowest production of the season.
Stewart led the Panthers with a game-high (tied) 22 points that included five 3-pointers. Toney, who played for the first time in four games after suffering a fractured hand, added 16 points and a team-high four assists. Sophomore Mandy Wittenmyer (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) and freshman Sheila Stufflet (Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson Senior) led Pittsburgh with four rebounds apiece. Additionally, sophomore Dallas Williams (Mason, Ohio/Mason) saw her first action of the season after rehabilitating a torn anterior cruciate ligament sustained last season.
Pittsburgh moves to 6-5 overall (0-1 Big East). The Panthers continue their California road trip when they visit Loyola Marymount on Saturday, Dec. 30.
