Providence College Athletics
Providence College
Pittsburgh
Women's Basketball Defeats Pittsburgh, 77-76
1/12/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
PROVIDENCE, R.I.-Junior center Monika Roberts put in a layup at the buzzer to give Providence (8-5, 3-1 BIG EAST) a 77-76 win over Pittsburgh (11-4, 2-2 BIG EAST) this evening at Alumni Hall.
Pittsburgh started the game with a 12-3 run in the first five minutes of the game, led by senior Nickea Morris, who netted six of the points in the run. The Panthers then enjoyed a 15-point lead (27-12) at the 6:29 mark, taking advantage of their 55.2 field goal percentage while holding the Friars to just 38.7 percent from the field.
But Providence would not be held down for long as they trailed by just six (40-34) at the half. Junior Jen Gombotz netted six points in the final minutes of the first stanza, while senior Megan Hinds posted the final six points of the half.
The second half began with a battle for the lead, with Providence taking the advantage for the first time in the game at the 8:16 mark, as Roberts rolled in a layup to put the Friars up, 58-57. Hinds followed that with a foul shot to make it 59-57 with 7:57 remaining. The two schools then battled over the next five minutes, with the Panthers outscoring their host, 14-9, over the span.
After a timeout by the Panthers, Roberts scored off a hook shot to bring the Friars within one (71-70) at the 2:09 mark. Thirty seconds later, she made one of two foul shots to tie the game at 71. Gombotz was also sent to the charity stripe and converted one of two attempts for Providence's one-point lead, 72-71.
In the next possession, junior Monique Toney hit a 12-foot jumper to put the Panthers up, 73-72. But Chrissy Vozab answered that with a 3-point field goal at the top left of the key as the Friars took a 75-73 lead with 13 seconds remaining. Vozab then fouled out with six seconds left, sending Toney to the foul line. Toney makes the first, but the second attempt hit the front end of the rim and freshman forward Mandy Wittenmyer grabbed the rebound and put it back in the basket for Pittsburgh's one-point lead, 76-75.
With one second left on the clock, Providence inbounded the ball in front of the bench with a shot pass to Roberts under the basket, who netted the left-handed layup for the win.
Roberts finished the evening with a team-high 17 points, while Gombotz and Hinds each contributed 16 points apiece. Vozab rounded out the Friars' top scorers with her 13 points.
Pittsburgh was paced by Toney, who registered a game-high 21 points and nine assists, while Wittenmyer posted a double-double of 19 points and 13 rebounds.
Providence returns to action on Saturday, January 15, when the Friars travel to Chestnut Hill, MA, to take on the Eagles of Boston College for a 2:00 p.m. game.
