No. 11 West Virginia 56, No. 18 Pittsburgh 35

2/13/2008 8:38 PM

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) -Olayinka Sanni scored 17 points and No. 11 West Virginia used 16-2 runs in each half to beat No. 18 Pittsburgh 56-35 on Wednesday night.

Meg Bulger added 14 points for the Mountaineers (20-3, 9-1 Big East), who reached 20 wins for the fourth time in five seasons.

Pittsburgh (18-6, 8-3) was held to a season-low 20 percent shooting (12-of-59) from the field and its lowest scoring output in seven seasons.

West Virginia overcame a cold start while Pitt couldn't. The teams missed a combined 23 of 25 field goals to start the game, when West Virginia finally started connecting. The Mountaineers led 20-4 after the first big run on the way to a 25-13 halftime lead.

It marked the first time Pitt scored less than 15 points in a half since 2003 against Xavier.

LaQuita Owens' 3-pointer capped a 16-2 run after halftime to put the Mountaineers ahead 41-15 with 13 minutes remaining.

Pitt got no closer than 20 points afterward in losing for the third time in four games.

Ashleigh Braxton scored 13 points for Pittsburgh, which committed 20 turnovers. Shavonte Zellous, the Big East's second-leading scorer at 19.9 points, was held to six.

West Virginia won its 16th straight home game. It was the first time in 36 meetings that both teams were ranked.