Women's Basketball: WVU Falls at Pitt
February 19, 2003 09:09 PM | General
February 18, 2003
PITTSBURGH – The West Virginia team that scored 100 points Saturday afternoon against Miami didn’t show up Wednesday night at Pitt.
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The Panthers went on a 13-3 run to erase a 26-23 West Virginia halftime lead on the way to a 67-61 victory in Pittsburgh.
The loss was damaging to West Virginia’s Big East tournament hopes. The Panthers and the Mountaineers both came into the game needing a victory to stay out of the conference cellar. The bottom two teams are not invited to the Big East tournament.
West Virginia had trouble scoring all night and when it came out cold at the start of the second half, Pitt capitalized.
A layup by Dallas Williams drew Pitt to within two at 28-26 and the Panthers finally took the lead, 31-28 after a three-point basket by Haley Harguth. Another three by Harguth and a runner by Amy Kunich pushed Pitt’s lead to five, and the Panthers built a seven-point edge after a three by Jessica Allen.
West Virginia had a great opportunity to make a game of it with 1:40 left. Trailing 58-54, Janell Dunlap came up with a steal and got the ball to Yolanda Paige. However, the point guard was called for a double dribble violation and Laine Selwyn nailed a three on Pitt’s ensuing possession to give the Panthers a seven-point lead and a three possession advantage.
Selwyn finished with a game-high 21 points. Forward Mandy Wittenmyer contributed 11 and Jessica Allen fired in 10 – all in the second half.
Sherell Sowho scored 14 points before fouling out to lead West Virginia, now 13-10, 2-10.
Paige added 13 and Michelle Carter contributed 11. WVU’s leading scorer Kate Bulger, coming off a 22-point effort Saturday against Miami, managed just 9 points.
The victory was the first this year at home for Pitt in league play. The Panthers also won for just the second time when trailing at halftime.
Pitt goes to 11-12, 3-9.
West Virginia could have sole possession of last place depending upon what St. John’s does tonight against Rutgers.
Those two teams will hookup Saturday at the WVU Coliseum in a contest that will follow the men’s game against Seton Hall.
