Panthers Prepare For Robert Morris
11/24/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Panthers Prepare For Robert Morris
11/24/1999
All-Time Series
Pittsburgh enters its contest with Robert Morris boasting a perfect 16-0 record against the Colonials in the all-time series. The series began in 1975-76 when the Panthers claimed a 62-24. The two teams did not play again until 1983-84. The two teams have met every year since, with the exception of 1991-92.
Pittsburgh's last three wins in the series have come on its home court, including three in the Panther Invitational. Last season, the Panthers captured an 89-49 win on their way to clinching the tournament championship. They also won a 62-44 decision in 1997-98 and a 68-64 win in 1996-97.
Pittsburgh has averaged 73.3 points a game versus Robert Morris throughout the series, and its largest victory came in last year's win. The Panthers have won decisions over the Colonials by 20-or-more points seven times, and by at least 30 points three times. The two teams have played into overtime only once (1987-88), with Pittsburgh winning 83-82 at Robert Morris.
Probable Starters
Robert Morris Colonials
F #22 Lindsey Smith (5-7, Sr.) 7.0 ppg., 1.0 rpg. F #32 Lauren Donnelly (6-0, Jr.) 2.0 ppg., 5.0 rpg. C #55 Elise James (6-0, Sr.) 16.0 ppg., 9.0 rpg. G #3 Sarah Grazier (5-8, So.) 7.0 ppg., 3.0 rpg. G #10 Mysty Bekavac (5-3, Fr.) 3.0 ppg., 2.0 rpg.Pittsburgh Panthers
F #32 Dallas Williams (6-0, Fr.) 8.0 ppg., 2.0 rpg. F #50 Mandy Wittenmyer (6-2, Fr.) 12.0 ppg., 6.0 rpg. C #40 Nickeia Morris (6-7, Sr.) 11.0 ppg., 11.0 rpg. G #14 Gina Montesano (5-9, Sr.*) 7.0 ppg., 4.0 rpg. G #24 Monique Toney (5-5, Jr.) 11.0 ppg., 4.0 rpg.
Rounding out Exhibition
Pittsburgh completed its exhibition slate Nov. 17 with an 85-74 loss to the Premier All-Stars to bring its record to 1-1 in preseason competition. The Panthers previously took a 64-50 decision over RTU Clondica Riga Nov. 9.
Successful Openers
The Panthers have a strong history of success in their season-openers. With Sunday's 80-43 rout of Lafayette, 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.Pittsburgh vs. Robert Morris
Series History... Pittsburgh Leads, 16-0
1975-76 62-24 (A) 1983-84 62-54 (A) 1984-85 82-44 (H) 1985-86 68-66 (H) 1985-86 69-61 (A) 1986-87 70-58 (A) 1987-88 83-82 (A) OT 1988-89 87-63 (H) 1990-91 80-71 (H) 1992-93 70-50 (A) 1993-94 82-60 (H) 1994-95 59-54 (A) 1995-96 80-51 (LPI) 1996-97 68-64 (LPI) 1997-98 62-44 (H) 1998-99 89-49 (LPI)Knocking 'em Down
Throughout much of last season, Pittsburgh had one of the top scoring defenses in the Big East Conference and finished the season allowing 67.9 points per game. The Panthers also had one of the lowest scoring offenses, though, as they averaged just 59.6 points per game.
This season, however, the Panthers have begun a different trend. They put 80 points on the board in their season- opener with Lafayette, and in two exhibition games they averaged 69.0 points. The Panthers knocked down 74 points versus RTU Clondica and almost matched their second-highest single-game total from 1998-99.
The most points scored by the Panthers last year was 89 against Robert Morris, and they sank 75 versus Miami (Ohio) and St. John's.
Tough Slate
Pittsburgh will play 13 home games this season, 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.
Looking for Another Good Start
This season, Pittsburgh is looking to duplicate the early success it enjoyed last year and so far it is on the right track. The Panthers recorded their first win of the season with a 80-43 decision over Lafayette, Nov. 21.
Pittsburgh had a strong start to the 1998-99 season, going 4-0 through its first four games, a feat that had not been accomplished since the 1982-83 season when they were 5-0.
Pittsburgh recorded wins over Robert Morris (89-49), Miami (Ohio) (75-56), Penn State (49-46) and Richmond (69-66). Its first loss did not come until Dec. 2 in a 75-40 setback to Ohio State.
Nonconference Foes
The Panthers play a 12-game nonconference 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 nonconfernce 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.
Solid on the Boards The Panthers have established themselves on the boards so far this season, outrebounding each of their opponents.
In their season-opener, the Panthers had a plus-12 rebounding margin with their 46 boards, compared to the Leopards' 34.
In both exhibition contests, Pittsburgh also outrebounded its opponents. Against RTU Clondica, the Panthers grabbed 49 boards to the Lativian team's 32. The Premier All-Stars proved to be tougher on the boards, but the Panthers still held on for a plus-four margin (34-30).
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.)
Freshmen Impact
This season's freshmen have made an immediate impact. In Pittsburgh's season-opener with Lafayette, the freshmen tallied 43 of the 80 points scored, and against the Premier All-Stars during the exhibition season, Pittsburgh's youngest class accounted for 51 of its 74 points. In the win over RTU Clondica, they had 29 of the 64 points.
Pittsburgh's youngest class has also been solid on the boards. The freshmen had 24 of 49 total rebounds against RTU Clondica and 21 of 34 in the game with Premier. Against Lafayette, they pulled down 17 of 46 rebounds.
Additionally, two freshmen have emerged in the starting rotation. Forward Mandy Wittenmyer earned the nod in the opener along with Dallas Williams.
Welcome Back
The Panthers welcome back six returnees with a wealth of experience to their lineup. Highlighting the list is fifth-year senior Gina Montesano.
Montesano sat out last season with a knee injury and returns to lead the Panthers' offense. She was sidelined after being the Panthers' second-leading scorer in 1997-98 with 8.7 points per game while adding 56 assists and 30 steals.
She returned to the lineup in Pittsburgh's first exhibition contest to take over the starting job at the point.
Montesano returned in possibly the best shape of her career and seemed to not even miss a beat. She saw 24 minutes of play and sank 12 points, including an impressive 10 in the first half. In 17 minutes versus Premier, Montesano had six points and three assists.
Mandy Madness
Pittsburgh freshman Mandy Wittenmyer made her mark with an impressive exhibition season and continued her solid play in the opener.
The Mechanicsburg, Pa., native was the lone freshman to earn a starting nod in the first exhibition game. The 6-2 forward came just two assists shy of a triple-double Nov. 9 against RTU Clondica Riga. Wittenmyer led the game with her 15 rebounds and added 12 points and eight assists.
Wittenmyer continued to impress in the second game against the Premier All-Stars. She accounted for 16 points and eight rebounds. Against Lafayette, she led the Panthers with her 12 points, while adding six rebounds and five assists.
Wittenmyer averaged 33 minutes of action in the two exhibition games, and 14.0 points and 11.5 rebounds, the most of any Panther.
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.
Magnificent Monique
Junior Monique Toney has picked up right where she left off at the end of her 1998-99 campaign. She earned a starting role in the last nine games of the season, and has jumped into the Panthers' starting rotation at the shooting guard position this year.
In her first exhibition game, the 5-5 guard scored a team-high 14 points, including 2-of-3 3-pointers and three assists. Against Lafayette, Toney contributed 11 points and four assists.
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.
Stewart saw her first collegiate action in Pittsburgh's exhibition game Nov. 9 with 11 minutes against RTU Clondica. In just her second game, Stewart had an impressive 18 points to lead the Panthers over the Premier All-Stars.
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 1999-2000 with a game-high 11 rebounds and 11 points versus Lafayette. In two exhibition games, Morris averaged 7.5 points and 7.0 rebounds. Though her numbers may seemed to have dropped off this year, it is only because she has not seen as much time due to the added depth in the lineup. The Panthers are looking to limit Morris' time on the court and utilize Pittsburgh's many newcomers in the frontcourt.
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. Last season, she had 222 on the season and finshed the year ranked fourth in the Big East.
Morris is off to a quick start this season, and if she matches her numbers from the 1998-99 season, she would rank among the top seven rebounders in Pittsburgh history when she completes her career. In Pittsburgh's opener, she grabbed a game- high 11 rebounds to bring her even closer to the number-nine spot on the all-time list.
Career Rebound Leaders
Name Total Morris Needs 1. Wanda Randolph 1,107 564 2. Gail Aughburns 1,007 464 3. Jennifer Bruce 998 455 4. Pam Miklasevich 968 425 5. Jonna Huemrich 954 411 6. Lorri Johnson 908 365 7. Latia Howard 664 121 8. Sally Sheerer 580 37 9. Connie Hurt 551 8 10. Nickeia Morris 544Blocking Bliss
Morris has also been one of Pittsburgh's best and most consistent blockers throughout her career. She ranked eighth on the all-time list with 145 career blocks heading into this season, but has already elevated herself to seventh all-time with five blocks against Lafayette. If Morris continues on this pace and matches her 1998-99 numbers, she could rank as high as third on the all-time list.
Career Blocked Shots Leaders
Name Total Morris Needs 1. Gail Aughburns 241 92 2. Wanda Randolf 211 62 3. Jennifer Bruce 203 54 4. Connie Hurt 189 40 5. Kim Tirik 170 21 6. Jill McElhinny 162 13 7. Nickeia Morris 150The Road Ahead
Pittsburgh continues its nonconference slate Sunday, Nov. 28 when they travel to Cincinnati. The trip to Ohio will be a sort of homecoming for several Pittsburgh players. Nickeia Morris will be playing in her home town for the first time in her collegiate career, while three others, Jackie Campbell, Dallas Williams and Robyn Swain are all Ohio natives.
"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 Nov. 25, 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.
