
There were three BIG EAST women’s basketball games on Tuesday night, with two decided by four points or less. All three home teams were winners.
At the Petersen Events Center, Pittsburgh (13-12, 5-7 BIG EAST) beat Providence (11-13, 4-8 BIG EAST) by the score of 60-57. Pitt senior Taneisha Harrison scored a game-high 20 points, while classmate Chelsea Cole added 13 points and 12 rebounds for her conference-leading 14th double-double. The Panthers have won four of their last five games.
For the second-straight game, the Panthers roared back from an 11-point deficit to record the win. Pitt also rallied from 11 points down in a 70-66 win over USF on Saturday, Feb. 12. It was the first time since Jan. 7, 2009 (at Providence, 0-of-11) that Pitt did not register at least one made 3-pointer in a contest. The Panthers went 0-of-5 on the night from behind the arc.
Teya Wright had 13 points while Mi-Khida Hankins added 12 for the Friars.
No. 10/11 DePaul (24-3, 11-1 BIG EAST) continued its impressive play with another home win, beating No. NR/RV Rutgers (14-11, 7-5 BIG EAST) by the score of 66-62. Junior Keisha Hampton scored a game-high 22 points, including five 3-pointers. DePaul made six of its first seven 3-point attempts and raced out to an 18-5 lead. The Blue Demons took a 41-25 halftime lead, but were outscored 37-25 in the second-half as Rutgers cut the deficit to two points in the waning minutes, before the DePaul held on for the win.
The Blue Demons also remained perfect at home this year (15-0) and have not lost since Feb. 10, 2010, a stretch of 17 games. DePaul also has its best record in school history over its first 27 games. The Blue Demons hit 10 3-pointers and have recorded 10 or more 3-pointers in its last three games and in four of its last six. DePaul is 7-0 when making 10 or more 3-pointers this season.
April Sykes scored 15 points while Chelsey Lee and Khadijah Rushdan each had 13 for the Scarlet Knights.
Down in Pennsylvania, freshman Jeanise Randolph scored a career-high 20 points but Cincinnati lost 64-44 at Villanova in the Pavilion. Randolph hit on 10-of-11 from the floor and surpassed her previous career best of 13, which she set against Miami (OH) on Jan. 2. Senior Shareese Ulis added 11 points for the Bearcats (8-16, 1-11 BIG EAST), connecting on three 3-pointers.
Junior Lindsay Kimmel led all scorers with a career-high 23 points, knocking down seven 3-pointers. Freshman Devon Kane (career-high 11 points) and sophomore Laura Sweeney (10) were also in double figures for the Wildcats (9-16, 1-11 BIG EAST). Villanova also snapped an 11-game losing streak in conference play.