Pittman was one of six seniors (dubbed the “Six Pack”) who powered the Lady Bulldogs basketball team to a 22-5 record her final season, when Atlantic Christian advanced all the way to the District 26 Championship game before losing in the final seconds to host Belmont Abbey. In the district semifinals, AC had ended Wingate’s 77-game home winning streak.
During her career, Pittman, who played for Wendee Saintsing, tallied 1,348 points and a school-record 245 blocks, averaging 12 points and eight rebounds. She was an Honorable Mention All-American her sophomore season and three times was named All-Carolinas Intercollegiate Athletics Conference. Her final year, Pittman was co-team MVP, All-Tournament at Catawba’s event, All-Conference, All-District and All-District Tournament.
At Garfield High School in Dale City, Va., Pittman scored more than 1,000 points as a four-year varsity player. She was all-conference, all-region and team MVP her final three prep seasons, earning all-state honors in basketball and softball her senior year, when she was also the Potomac News Basketball Player of the Year, Northwest Regional MVP and second-team All-American.
“She was very fundamentally sound,” long-time Barton women’s basketball coach Wendee Saintsing said of Pittman. “She was probably the best shot blocker that went to school here. She had excellent timing and was a very good shooter for a 6-foot girl. I wouldn’t hesitate to put the ball in her hands any time we needed a crucial score.”
Pittman lives in Wilson with her husband, Guy, and their daughter, McKenna. She is a physical therapist assistant at Wilson Medical Center.
“I definitely remember the “Six Pack” and how we all became friends, which was important, because we knew what to expect from each other on and off the court,” said Pittman, who was also a softball player at AC early in her career. “I remember the long road trips, winning the conference and beating Wingate to end their streak. The small school atmosphere was just great.
“It’s awesome being inducted into the Hall of Fame. All those years I put in, from age 8 until I graduated from college were worth it. Still, I never imagined this would happen.”
