Pittsburgh Panthers women's basketball

This article is about Pitt women's basketball. For Pitt men's basketball, see Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball.

Pittsburgh Panthers
2023–24 Pittsburgh Panthers women's basketball team
University	University of Pittsburgh
Head coach	Tory Verdi (1st season)
Conference	Atlantic Coast Conference
Location	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Arena	Petersen Events Center (Capacity: 12,508)
Nickname	Panthers
Student section	Oakland Zoo
Colors	Blue and gold [1]
Uniforms
Home Away Alternate
NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen
2008, 2009
NCAA tournament appearances
2007, 2008, 2009, 2015
Conference regular season champions
1984

Pittsburgh Panthers women's basketball is the NCAA Division I intercollegiate women's basketball program of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Pitt women's basketball team competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference and plays their home games in the Petersen Events Center. The university first sponsored women's basketball on the varsity level in 1914 and have appeared in five straight national post-season tournaments between 2006 and 2010.

History

The undefeated 1924–25 Pitt women's varsity basketball team went 10–0 with wins against Cincinnati, at NYU, and at Temple who had never before been defeated on their home floor.

Former head coach of the Pitt women's basketball team, Agnus Berenato

Trophy case for Pitt women's basketball as seen in the lobby of the Petersen Events Center in 2008

Women's intercollegiate varsity basketball at the University of Pittsburgh began during the 1914–1915 ^[3] season and found early success until 1926–1927 after which it was disbanded in favor of intramural sports programs. Varsity basketball for women was reinstated during the 1970–1971 season. Although participants were awarded varsity letters and competed intercollegiately, the program wasn't taken over by the Athletic Department until the 1974–1975 season. During the 1970s, the team earned several EAIAW regional tournament appearances. Pitt began competing in the Big East Conference in 1982, and the Panthers won the Big East regular season championship in 1984. Pitt appeared in the National Women's Invitational Tournament in 1981 and 1994 as well as the Women's National Invitation Tournament in 2000 and 2006 before earning its first ever NCAA tournament appearance in 2007, where they advanced to the second round before losing to eventual national champion Tennessee. The Panthers then advanced to the Sweet Sixteen in 2008 and 2009, ^[4] and made their fifth straight post-season tournament appearance in the WNIT in 2010. On April 12, 2013, Pitt hired Suzie McConnell-Serio to replace Berenato as head coach. ^[5] Pitt moved to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) beginning with the 2013–14 season.

Postseason

The home of Pitt women's basketball, the Petersen Events Center, in November 2019

Pitt hosting West Virginia in the Pink the Petersen edition of the Backyard Brawl on February 19, 2011

NCAA (4): 2007, 2008, 2009, 2015
Pitt reached the "Sweet Sixteen" in 2008 and 2009.

NWIT and WNIT (5): 1981, 1994, 2000, 2006, 2010
Pitt was the NWIT Consolation Winner in 1981 (5th Place), won the NWIT Third Place game in 1994, and reached the WNIT "Final Four" in 2006.

EAIAW regional championship tournaments (6): 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981

Honors

All Americans

• Jennifer Bruce, 1984–85 WBCA All-District All-American
• Lorri Johnson, 1990–91 WBCA All-District All-American
• Jonna Huemrich, 1993–94 Honorable Mention All-American
• Marcedes Walker, 2006–07 WBCA District I All-American
• Marcedes Walker, 2007–08 WBCA District I All-American
• Shavonte Zellous, 2008–09 AP Third Team All-American and WBCA Region I All-American

Academic All-Americans

Pam Miklasevich, 1981 College Sports Information Directors of America ^[6]

Conference honors

• Jennifer Bruce won Big East Player of the Year in 1984
• Judy Saurer won Big East Coach of the Year in 1984
• Jonna Huemrich won Big East Rookie of the Year in 1991
• Traci Waites won Big East Coach of the Year in 2000
• Shavonte Zellous won Big East Most Improved Player in 2007
• Liatu King won ACC Most Improved Player in 2024

Points club

22 total Panther players have achieved the 1,000 points club with three scoring over 2,000 points.

Lorri Johnson, 1987–91; 2,312 points, 20.5 PPG Jennifer Bruce, 1981–85; 2,295 points, 20.5 PPG Shavonte Zellous, 2005–09; 2,251 points, 16.9 PPG Debbie Lewis, 1977–82; 1,941 points, 15.4 PPG Brianna Kissel, 2011-2015; 1938 points, 15.9 PPG Mercedes Walker, 2004–08; 1,870 points, 15.0 PPG Jonna Huemrich, 1990–94; 1,807 points, 15.6 PPG Pam Miklasevich, 1979–83; 1,637 points, 16.0 PPG Wanda Randolph, 1976–79; 1,479 points, 19.0 PPG Taneisha Harrison, 2007–2011; 1,372 points, 10.6 PPG Laine Selwyn, 1999–2003; 1,344 points, 12.1 PPG

Xenia Stewart, 2005–2009; 1,330 points, 10.1 PPG Latia Howard, 1994–97; 1,155 points, 13.1 PPG Mandy Wittenmyer, 1999–2003; 1,152 points, 12.0 PPG Brooke Stewart, 1999–2003; 1,114 points, 10.0 PPG Connie Hurt, 1987–91; 1,103 points, 10.5 PPG Jania Sims, 2006–2011; 1,097, 10.1 PPG Yacine Diop, 2014–18; 1,093 points, 11.5 PPG Dayshanette Harris, 2019-2023; 1085, 10.6 PPG Jennifer Shingler, 1986–90; 1,081 points, 10.0 PPG Liatu King, 2020-2024; 1073 points, 10.5 PPG (through 2/18/24) Mallorie Winn*, 2002–2008; 1,028 points, 9.9 PPG

*Winn played at Georgia Tech from 2002 to 2004 prior to transferring to Pitt. She scored 812 of her 1,028 career points at Pitt.
PPG = points per game

Retired jerseys

• Jennifer Bruce #12
• Lorri Johnson #24

WNBA

The following former Pitt basketball players have or are currently playing in the WNBA.

• Laine Selwyn, Indiana Fever, 2008
• Marcedes Walker, Houston Comets, 2008
• Shavonte Zellous, Detroit Shock, 2009–present

Draft

The following players were selected in the WNBA draft.

• 2009 Shavonte Zellous, 1st round, 11th pick, Detroit Shock
• 2015 Brianna Kiesel, 2nd round, 13th pick, Tulsa Shock

Year by year results

Pitt's varsity women's basketball program, the only women's varsity sport at the school during that time, was started in the 1914–15 season and continued until 1926–1927 when it was dropped in favor of a program of intramural women's athletics that could provide more opportunities for the female students at the university. The varsity women's basketball program was revived for the 1970–71 season and moved under the auspices of the athletic department in 1974–75. Records prior to the 1974–75 are largely incomplete (see notes). ^{[7] [8]}

Season	Coach	Overall	Conference	Standing	Postseason	Coaches' poll	AP poll	Notes
H. H. Provin (1914–1920)
1914–15	H. H. Provin	?-1	—	—				incomplete records, reported all wins but 1 loss [9]
1915–16	H. H. Provin	7–0	—	—				[10]
1916–17	H. H. Provin	6–0	—	—				[11]
1917–18	H. H. Provin	9–1	—	—				[12]
1918–19	H. H. Provin	8–0	—	—				not including win over Alumnae [13]
1919–20	H. H. Provin	8–0	—	—				one win by forfeit [14]
H. H. Provin:		incomplete	–
A. Lemon Arnold (1920–1921)
1920–21	A. Lemon Arnold	9–0	—	—				3 game results unknown [15]
A. Lemon Arnold:		incomplete	–
Margaret A. McClenahan (1921–1927)
1921–22	Margaret A. McClenahan	6–1	—	—				incomplete records [16]
1922–23	Margaret A. McClenahan	6–3–1	—	—				one tie, not including win over Freshman [17]
1923–24	Margaret A. McClenahan	8–1	—	—				not including win over Alumnae; [18] 2 wins over Temple found only in Temple's media guide [19]
1924–25	Margaret A. McClenahan	9–0	—	—				not including win over Alumnae [20]
1925–26	Margaret A. McClenahan	2-?	—	—				7-game season, incomplete records [19] [21] [22]
1926–27	Margaret A. McClenahan	4–2	—	—				not including win over Alumnae [23]
Margaret A. McClenahan:		incomplete	–
No Program (1927–1970)
Sandra Bullman (1970–1974)
1970–71	Sandra Bullman	9–2	—	—				individual game results unknown [24] [25]
1971–72	Sandra Bullman	4–2	—	—				[26]
1972–73	Sandra Bullman	?-?	—	—				unknown results [27]
1973–74	Sandra Bullman	?-?	—	—				unknown results [28]
Sandra Bullman:		incomplete	–
Jean Condo (1974–1975)
1974–75	Jean Condo	10–6	—	—				[7]
Jean Condo:		10–6	–
Pat Wallace (1975–1977)
1975–76	Pat Wallace	16–8	—	—	EAIAW Regional (3–1, consolation champions)			[7]
1976–77	Pat Wallace	19–8	—	—	EAIAW Regional (1–2)			[7]
Pat Wallace:		35–16	–
Jean Balthaser (1977–1980)
1977–78	Jean Balthaser	14–14	—	—	EAIAW Regional (1–1)			[7]
1978–79	Jean Balthaser	12–17	—	—	EAIAW Regional (0–1)			[7]
1979–80	Jean Balthaser	21–11	—	—	EAIAW Regional (0–1)			[7]
Jean Balthaser:		47–42	–
Judy Saurer (Big East Conference beginning in 1982–83)(1980–1985)
1980–81	Judy Saurer	22–7	—	—	NWIT Fifth Place Regionals (0–1)			[7]
1981–82	Judy Saurer	14–14	—	—				[7]
1982–83	Judy Saurer	17–11	5–3	3rd				[7]
1983–84	Judy Saurer	16–12	6–2	T-1st				[7]
1984–85	Judy Saurer	16–12	10–6	T-4th				[7]
Judy Saurer:		85–56	21–11
Kirk Bruce (Big East Conference)(1985–1998)
1985–86	Kirk Bruce	11–16	5–11	6th				[7]
1986–87	Kirk Bruce	7–21	1–15	9th				[7]
1987–88	Kirk Bruce	14–15	5–11	7th				[7]
1988–89	Kirk Bruce	11–17	3–13	9th				[7]
1989–90	Kirk Bruce	15–14	6–10	6th				[7]
1990–91	Kirk Bruce	16–13	10–6	T-3rd				[7]
1991–92	Kirk Bruce	11–18	6–12	7th				[7]
1992–93	Kirk Bruce	15–12	10–8	T-4th				[7]
1993–94	Kirk Bruce	21–10	12–6	3rd	NWIT Third Place			[7]
1994–95	Kirk Bruce	17–11	10–8	T-4th				[7]
1995–96	Kirk Bruce	6–24	3–15	7th (BE 7)				[7]
1996–97	Kirk Bruce	8–22	3–15	7th (BE 7)				[7]
1997–98	Kirk Bruce	6–21	3–15	7th (BE 7)				[7]
Kirk Bruce:		158–214	77–145
Traci Waites (Big East Conference)(1998–2003)
1998–99	Traci Waites	8–19	3–15	T-12th				[7]
1999–2000	Traci Waites	16–13	7–9	T-6th	WNIT first round			[7]
2000–01	Traci Waites	9–18	3–13	T-12th				[7]
2001–02	Traci Waites	8–19	3–13	13th				[7]
2002–03	Traci Waites	12–16	4–12	T-11th				[7]
Traci Waites:		53–85	20–62
Agnus Berenato (Big East Conference)(2003–2013)
2003–04	Agnus Berenato	6–20	2–14	13th				[7]
2004–05	Agnus Berenato	13–15	5–11	10th				[7]
2005–06	Agnus Berenato	22–11	9–7	T-6th	WNIT semifinals			[7]
2006–07	Agnus Berenato	24–9	10–6	T-5th	NCAA round of 32			[7]
2007–08	Agnus Berenato	24–11	10–6	T-5th	NCAA Sweet Sixteen	16		[7]
2008–09	Agnus Berenato	25–8	12–4	3rd	NCAA Sweet Sixteen	15	15	[7]
2009–10	Agnus Berenato	16–15	5–11	T-12th	WNIT first round			[7]
2010–11	Agnus Berenato	14–17	5–11	12th				[7]
2011–12	Agnus Berenato	8–21	0–16	16th
2012–13	Agnus Berenato	9–21	0–16	15th
Agnus Berenato:		161–148	58–102
Suzie McConnell-Serio (Atlantic Coast Conference)(2013–2018)
2013–14	Suzie McConnell-Serio	11–20	3–13	T-14th
2014–15	Suzie McConnell-Serio	20–12	9–7	7th	NCAA second round
2015–16	Suzie McConnell-Serio	13–18	4–12	T-13th
2016–17	Suzie McConnell-Serio	13–17	4–12	T-11th
2017–18	Suzie McConnell-Serio	10–20	2–14	13th
Suzie McConnell-Serio:		67–87	22–58
Lance White (Atlantic Coast Conference)(2018–2023)
2018–19	Lance White	11–20	2–14	14th
2019–20	Lance White	5–26	1–17	15th
2020–21	Lance White	5–14	3–12	12th
2021–22	Lance White	11–19	2–16	T-14th
2022–23	Lance White	10–20	3–15	15th
Lance White:		44–99	11–74
Tory Verdi (Atlantic Coast Conference)(2024–present)
2023–24	Tory Verdi	8–24	2–16	T-14th
Tory Verdi:		8–24	2–16
Total:		656–751
National champion        Postseason invitational champion         Conference regular season champion        Conference regular season and conference tournament champion       Division regular season champion      Division regular season and conference tournament champion       Conference tournament champion

NCAA tournament results

Year	Seed	Round	Opponent	Result
2007	#8	First Round Second Round	#9 James Madison #1 Tennessee	W 71-61 L 68-54
2008	#6	First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen	#11 Wyoming 3 Baylor #2 Stanford	W 63-58 W 67-59 L 72-53
2009	#4	First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen	#13 Montana 12 Gonzaga #1 Oklahoma	W 64-35 W 65-60 L 70-59
2015	#10	First Round Second Round	#7 Chattanooga #2 Tennessee	W 51-40 L 77-67

References

1. "Color Palette". Pitt Athletics Brand Identity Manual (PDF). February 9, 2022. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
2. The Owl, 1926, University of Pittsburgh, pg. 373
3. The Owl, 1916, University of Pittsburgh, pg. 314
4. 2006–07 Pitt Women's Basketball Media Guide, University of Pittsburgh
5. Associated Press (April 12, 2013). "Pitt hires Suzie McConnell-Serio". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
6. CoSIDA Academic All-American All-Time List (by School) (PDF), College Sports Information Directors of America, 2012-03-08, p. 352, retrieved 2012-06-02
7. "Media Guide". Pittsburgh. Retrieved 9 Aug 2013.
8. "Request Rejected".
9. 1916 Owl, Pg. 309
10. 1917 Owl pg. 308
11. 1918 Owl pg. 72
12. 1919 Owl pg. 376
13. 1920 Owl pg. 270
14. 1921 Owl pg. 438
15. 1922 Owl pg 313
16. 1923 Owl pg. 368
17. 1924 Owl. Pg. 330
18. 1925 Owl pg. 218
19. 2006–07 Temple Women's Basketball Media Guide. Temple University. 2006. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
20. 1926 Owl. Pg. 357
21. 1927 Owl pg. 318
22. NYU Women's Basketball Media Guide.
23. 1928 Owl pg. 304
24. 1971 Owl pg. 218
25. Hail to Pitt: A Sports History of the University of Pittsburgh, Jim O'Brien, 1982, Wolfson Publishing, p. 287
26. 1972 Owl pg. 488
27. 1973 Owl pg. 245
28. 1974 Owl pg. 144

External links

• Official website