January 28, 1999

Traveling to Pittsburgh, Pa., in search of its second straight Big East victory, the Villanova women's basketball team jumped out to a big lead early and glided to a 61-45 win over the host Panthers. With the victory, the Wildcats brought their record to the .500 mark for the season at 9-9 overall and 5-5 in Big East Conference play.

Villanova got out to a quick 19-4 lead in the game's first 5:17 led by eight points from sophomore center Brandi Barnes and two three-point field goals from redshirt sophomore guard Lauren Pellicane. Pittsburgh would get only to as close as 17 points, 29-12 at the 4:46 mark, before the Wildcats scored six of half's last eight points to go into intermission with a 33-14 lead.

Villanova shot nearly 52 percent in the game's first stanza (15-for-29), and were led by Barnes' 10 points and senior forward Jenn Sliwa's seven points and four rebounds. The Wildcat defense held the Panthers to seven-of-19 shooting (36.8%) in the first half.

Villanova did not let up in the second half as the Cats outscored the Panthers 19-10 in the first 9:27 to take their biggest lead of the game at 52-26. Pittsburgh tried to stage a late-game rally, but it was not to be, as Villanova cruised to a 61-45 victory.

The Wildcats had three players in double figures, led by 12 points each from Barnes and Pellicane and 11 points from junior forward Jenea Skeeters. This marked the eighth straight game Skeeters has scored in double figures for Villanova. In this eight game stretch, she has scored 13.1 points per game, during which the Wildcats have posted a 5-3 record.

For Pittsburgh (8-10, 3-7) in a losing effort, center Nickeia Morris scored a game-high 15 points. Forward Kortni Webb and guard Monique Toney each added 12 points for the Panthers.

Villanova will resume play on Saturday, Jan. 30, traveling to Pitcataway, N.J., to face the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at 2:00 p.m.