2008–09 Pittsburgh Panthers women's basketball team
Encyclopedia
The 2008–09 Pittsburgh Panthers women's basketball team represented the University of Pittsburgh
in the 2008–09 NCAA Division I women's basketball season and advanced to the NCAA Tournament "Sweet 16"
. The Panthers were coached by Agnus Berenato
. The Panthers are a member of the Big East Conference
and played their home games at the Petersen Events Center
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
.
advancing to the second round where it lost to eventual national champion Tennessee
. Pitt finished the season ranked #16 in the Coaches' Poll, its highest finish in the polls for the women up until that point. Center Marcedes Walker and Guards Karlyle Lim and Mallorie Winn finish up their eligibility.
* Injured during the first regular season game against Texas A&M
and was redshirted
.
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
in the 2008–09 NCAA Division I women's basketball season and advanced to the NCAA Tournament "Sweet 16"
NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Women's Division I Championship is an annual college basketball tournament for women. Held each April, the Women's Championship was inaugurated in the 1981–82 season...
. The Panthers were coached by Agnus Berenato
Agnus Berenato
Agnus Berenato , is the head women's basketball coach at the University of Pittsburgh, a role she has held since 2003.-Early life and education:Berenato is the eighth of ten children born to Peter and Theresa McGlade...
. The Panthers are a member of the Big East Conference
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
and played their home games at the Petersen Events Center
Petersen Events Center
Not to be confused with Petersen Sports Complex.The John M. and Gertrude E. Petersen Events Center is a 12,508-seat multi-purpose arena on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It hosts the men's and women's Pitt Panthers basketball teams...
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
Previous season
The 2007-08 Pitt women's basketball went 24-10, tying a program record number of wins set the previous season. Pitt earned its first ever bid to the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament2008 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2008 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 teams playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the 2007–08 national champion of women's NCAA Division I college basketball. It commenced on March 22, 2008, and concluded when the University of Tennessee Lady...
advancing to the second round where it lost to eventual national champion Tennessee
Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball
The Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball team represents the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee in NCAA women's basketball competition...
. Pitt finished the season ranked #16 in the Coaches' Poll, its highest finish in the polls for the women up until that point. Center Marcedes Walker and Guards Karlyle Lim and Mallorie Winn finish up their eligibility.
Offseason
- Agnus Berenato is honored as the Dapper Dan Sportswomen of the Year for 2008-09.
- Marcedes Walker earns a spot on the WNBA's Houston CometsHouston CometsThe Houston Comets were a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Houston, Texas, United States. Formed in 1997, the team was one of the best original eight WNBA teams and won the first four championships of the league's existence. The Comets were the first dynasty of the WNBA and...
's roster - Pitt hired assistant coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin from the University of PortlandUniversity of PortlandThe University of Portland is a private Roman Catholic university located in Portland, Oregon. It is affiliated with the Congregation of Holy Cross and is the sister school of the University of Notre Dame. Founded in 1901, UP has a student body of about 3,600 students...
to replace departed assistant coach Shea RalphShea RalphShea Sydney Ralph is a former collegiate basketball player and current assistant coach for the University of Connecticut Huskies women's basketball team. Ralph was proficient in multiple sports, set state high school records in basketball, and earned multiple national player of the year awards in...
, who took a position at her alma mater ConnecticutConnecticut Huskies women's basketballThe Connecticut Huskies women's basketball team represents the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Connecticut in NCAA women's basketball competition. Under head coach Geno Auriemma, the Huskies have won 7 NCAA Division I national championships, advanced to 12 Final Fours, and won over 30 Big...
. - The Pitt women's team took a preseason trip to Europe to play three exhibitions games
- Shavonte Zellous is named to the State Farm Wade TrophyWade TrophyThe Wade Trophy is an award presented annually to the best women's basketball player in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I competition. It is named after three–time national champion Delta State University coach Lily Margaret Wade. The award debuted in 1978 as the first–ever...
"Watch List" - Seven of the women's team's games are picked up for television, including two appearances on ESPN2ESPN2ESPN2 is an American sports cable television network owned by ESPN. The channel debuted on October 1, 1993.Originally nicknamed "the deuce," ESPN2 was initially branded as a network for a younger generation of sports fans featuring edgier graphics as well as extreme sports like motocross,...
- Former center Marcedes Walker's jersey is selected to hang in the "Ring of Honor" at the Women's Basketball Hall of FameWomen's Basketball Hall of FameThe Women's Basketball Hall of Fame honors men and women who have contributed to the sport of women's basketball. The Hall of Fame opened in 1999 in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA...
. - Shavonte Zellous is named to the preseason All-American teams of Lindy's and the Sporting News.
- Agnus Berenato's contract is extended to coach the University of Pittsburgh through the 2015-16 season.
- Shavonte Zellous is a unanimous selection to the pre-season All-Big East team.
- Shavonte Zellous is named as one of 30 candidates for the John R. Wooden AwardJohn R. Wooden AwardThe John R. Wooden Award is an award given annually to the most outstanding men's and women's college basketball players. The program consists of the men's and women's Player of the Year awards, the Legends of Coaching award and recognizes the All–America Teams.The awards, given by the Los...
. - Shavonte Zellous, alongside DeJuan BlairDeJuan BlairDeJuan Lamont Blair is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association . Before turning pro Blair played center for the University of Pittsburgh men's basketball team from 2007 to 2009...
of the Pitt men's team2008–09 Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball teamThe 2008-09 Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball team represents the University of Pittsburgh in the 2008-09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Head Coach is Jamie Dixon, who is serving for his 6th year as head coach at Pittsburgh and 10th overall at the University...
, appears on one of six covers of the Sports IllustratedSports IllustratedSports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
College Basketball Preview Issue.
Roster
| Number | Name | Height | Position | Class | Hometown |
| 22 | Chelsea Cole | 6-3 | Forward | Sophomore | Lumberton, NJ |
| 10 | Taneisha Harrison | 6-0 | Guard | Sophomore | Bowie, MD |
| 32 | Selena Nwude | 6-5 | Center | Sophomore (RS Redshirt (college sports) Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility... ) |
Riverdale, MD |
| 24 | Sarah Ogoke | 5-8 | Guard | Freshman | Sugar Land, TX |
| 50 | Kate Popovec | 6-3 | Center | Freshman | Canfield, OH |
| 2 | Sophronia Sallard | 5-10 | Guard/Forward | Junior (RS) | Syracuse, NY |
| 25 | Shayla Scott | 6-1 | Guard | Sophomore | Monroeville, PA |
| 14 | Jania Sims* | 5-7 | Guard | Junior | Newark, NJ |
| 33 | Xenia Stewart | 6-0 | Guard | Senior | Bowie, MD |
| 12 | Brittaney Thomas | 5-8 | Guard | Junior (RS) | Montgomery, AL |
| 40 | Shawnice "Pepper" Wilson | 6-6 | Center | Freshman | Pittsburgh, PA |
| 1 | Shavonte Zellous Shavonte Zellous Shavonte Zellous is an American professional basketball player. She currently plays the guard position for the Indiana Fever in the WNBA and previously was a standout basketball player at the University of Pittsburgh. Zellous was drafted 11th in the first round of the 2009 WNBA Draft by the Shock... |
5-10 | Guard | Senior (RS) | Orlando, FL |
2008–09 Texas A&M Aggies women's basketball team
The 2008–09 Texas A&M Aggies women's basketball team represented Texas A&M University in NCAA Division I women's college basketball.-Preseason outlook:...
and was redshirted
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
.
Schedule and results
| Date | Opponent | Location | Television | Result | Score | Record (Conference) |
| Exhibition | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11/05/08 | vs. Ohio Legends | Petersen Events Center | W | 73-58 | ||
| 11/11/08 | Premier Players | Petersen Events Center | W | 76-65 | ||
| Regular Season | ||||||
| 11/16/08 | vs. Texas A&M | Baton Rouge, La. State Farm Tipoff Classic |
ESPN2 ESPN2 ESPN2 is an American sports cable television network owned by ESPN. The channel debuted on October 1, 1993.Originally nicknamed "the deuce," ESPN2 was initially branded as a network for a younger generation of sports fans featuring edgier graphics as well as extreme sports like motocross,... |
L | 56-50 | 0-1 |
| 11/20/08 | at Western Michigan | Kalamazoo, Mich. | W | 88-60 | 1-1 | |
| 11/24/08 | vs. Penn State | Petersen Events Center Pitt–Penn State rivalry |
W | 80-59 | 2-1 | |
| 11/28/08 | vs. Elon | Petersen Events Center Pitt Thanksgiving Tournament |
W | 84-49 | 3-1 | |
| 11/29/08 | vs. Youngstown State | Petersen Events Center Pitt Thanksgiving Tournament |
W | 99-42 | 4-1 | |
| 12/03/08 | at Duquesne | Pittsburgh, Pa. City Game City Game The City Game is an annual college basketball game between the University of Pittsburgh Panthers and the Duquesne University Dukes. The term "City Game" is also used refer to women's basketball games played annually between the two universities and may also be used to refer to other athletic... |
W | 66-47 | 5-1 | |
| 12/07/08 | vs. Maryland | Petersen Events Center | W | 86-57 | 6-1 | |
| 12/13/08 | vs. West Virginia State | Petersen Events Center | W | 85-37 | 7-1 | |
| 12/16/08 | vs. Wagner | Petersen Events Center | W | 98-41 | 8-1 | |
| 12/19/08 | at Florida A&M | Tallahassee, Fla. | W | 89-59 | 9-1 | |
| 12/21/08 | at Florida | Gainesville, Fla. | L | 90-83 | 9-2 | |
| 12/30/08 | vs. Western Kentucky | Petersen Events Center | W | 93-50 | 10-2 | |
| 01/04/09 | vs. West Virginia | Petersen Events Center Backyard Brawl Backyard Brawl The Backyard Brawl is an annual football game between the University of Pittsburgh Panthers and the West Virginia University Mountaineers. The term "Backyard Brawl" has also been used to refer to college basketball games played annually or semi-iannually and may also be used to refer to other... |
ESPNU ESPNU ESPNU is a television channel that specializes in college sports, and is produced by, affiliated with and owned by parent network ESPN. ESPNU originates out of ESPN Regional Television's ESPNU (often referred to as The U) is a television channel that specializes in college sports, and is produced... |
W | 72-63 | 11-2 (1-0) |
| 01/07/09 | at Providence | Providence, R.I. | L | 77-69 | 11-3 (1-1) | |
| 01/10/09 | vs. DePaul | Petersen Events Center | Big East TV ESPN Plus ESPN Plus, the popular name of ESPN Regional Television, is an American television program syndicator. ERT is based along with sister network ESPNU in Charlotte, North Carolina... |
L | 69-62 | 11-4 (1-2) |
| 01/17/09 | vs. USF | Petersen Events Center | W | 79-47 | 12-4 (2-2) | |
| 01/20/09 | at Seton Hall | South Orange, N.J. | W | 76-40 | 13-4 (3-2) | |
| 01/24/09 | at Syracuse | Syracuse, N.Y. | W | 77-75 | 14-4 (4-2) | |
| 01/27/09 | at Georgetown | Washington, D.C. | W | 50-39 | 15-4 (5-2) | |
| 01/30/09 | vs. Marquette | Petersen Events Center | W | 86-54 | 16-4 (6-2) | |
| 02/03/09 | vs. Notre Dame | Petersen Events Center | W | 82-70 | 17-4 (7-2) | |
| 02/10/09 | at Rutgers | Piscataway, N.J. | CBS College Sports | W | 61-53 (OT) | 18-4 (8-2) |
| 02/15/09 | at Connecticut | Storrs, Conn. | ESPN2 | L | 95-42 | 18-5 (8-3) |
| 02/18/09 | vs. Villanova | Petersen Events Center | W | 70-54 | 19-5 (9-3) | |
| 02/21/09 | vs. Cincinnati | Petersen Events Center | W | 68-53 | 20-5 (10-3) | |
| 02/24/09 | at West Virginia | Morgantown, W.Va. Backyard Brawl |
CBS College Sports | W | 72-60 | 21-5 (11-3) |
| 02/28/09 | at Louisville | Louisville, Ky. | Big East TV | L | 75-51 | 21-6 (11-4) |
| 03/02/09 | vs. St. John's | Petersen Events Center | W | 79-60 | 22-6 (12-4) | |
| Big East Women's Basketball Championship Big East Women's Basketball Tournament The Big East Women's Basketball Tournament determines the Big East Conference champion and the winner of the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Since 2004 the tournament has been held in the Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the XL Center .Starting in 2009, the tournament expanded to... |
||||||
| 03/08/09 | vs. DePaul | Hartford, Conn. (Big East Quarterfinals) |
ESPNU | W | 62-59 | 23-6 |
| 03/09/09 | vs. Louisville | Hartford, Conn. (Big East Semifinals) |
ESPNU | L | 69-63 | 23-7 |
| NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament 2009 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament The regionals, held in the city rather than the geographic area as a practice that has been used since 2005, were held there from March 28 to 31 at these sites:... |
||||||
| 03/21/09 | vs. Montana | Seattle, Wash. (NCAA First Round) |
ESPN2 | W | 64-35 | 24-7 |
| 03/23/09 | vs. Gonzaga | Seattle, Wash. (NCAA Second Round) |
ESPN2 | W | 65-60 | 25-7 |
| 03/29/09 | vs. Oklahoma | Oklahoma City, Okla. (NCAA Regional Quarterfinals) |
ESPN2 | L | 70-59 | 25-8 |
Rankings
| Poll | Pre | Wk 1 | Wk 2 | Wk 3 | Wk 4 | Wk 5 | Wk 6 | Wk 7 | Wk 8 | Wk 9 | Wk 10 | Wk 11 | Wk 12 | Wk 13 | Wk 14 | Wk 15 | Wk 16 | WK 17 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP | rv | rv | rv | 24 | 16 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 19 | rv | 25 | 21 | 22 | 19 | 19 | 15 | 14 | 15 | n/a |
| Coaches | 23 | rv | rv | rv | 20 | 19 | 23 | 22 | 20 | rv | rv | 24 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 19 | 16 | 15 |
Team players drafted into the WNBA
| Round | Pick | Player | WNBA Club |
| 1 | 11 | Shavonte Zellous Shavonte Zellous Shavonte Zellous is an American professional basketball player. She currently plays the guard position for the Indiana Fever in the WNBA and previously was a standout basketball player at the University of Pittsburgh. Zellous was drafted 11th in the first round of the 2009 WNBA Draft by the Shock... |
Detroit Shock Detroit Shock The Detroit Shock was a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. They were the 2003, 2006 and 2008 WNBA champion... |
See also
- Pittsburgh Panthers women's basketballPittsburgh Panthers women's basketballPittsburgh 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 Big East Conference and plays their home games...
- Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketballPittsburgh Panthers men's basketballPittsburgh Panthers men's basketball is the NCAA Division I intercollegiate men's basketball program of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Pitt men's basketball team competes in the Big East Conference and plays their home games in...
- 2008–09 Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball team2008–09 Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball teamThe 2008-09 Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball team represents the University of Pittsburgh in the 2008-09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Head Coach is Jamie Dixon, who is serving for his 6th year as head coach at Pittsburgh and 10th overall at the University...
- Pittsburgh Panthers
- University of PittsburghUniversity of PittsburghThe University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
- Big East ConferenceBig East ConferenceThe Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...