Feb. 25, 2006

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PITTSBURGH - Pitt lost for just the second time in its last eight contests, dropping a 65-50 decision to No. 7/8 Rutgers at the Petersen Events Center on Saturday, in front of a season-high 4,115 fans.

Sophomore center Marcedes Walker (Philadelphia, Pa./University City) did all she could for the Panthers (18-8, 9-6 Big East), scoring a game-high 24 points and adding 10 rebounds for her 11th double-double of the year and the 20th of her career.

The Scarlet Knights (23-3, 15-0) remained unbeaten in the conference, getting 23 points from Cappie Pondexter, 14 from Matee Ajavon, and 10 each from Essence Carson and Mariota Theodoris. Rutgers led by seven at the break and extended that lead to as many as 15, which was the final margin in the contest.

After a jump shot by Walker gave Pitt a 2-0 lead just 11 seconds in, the Panthers missed their next eight shots and the Scarlet Knights got a jumper from Kia Vaughn with 13:12 remaining in the first half to take an 8-6 lead. Rutgers held onto the lead for the rest of the contest, starting a 9-2 run with Vaughn's basket.

Pitt closed it to three points on three occasions in the first half, the last coming with 3:03 remaining on a lay-up by Walker to make it a 25-22 game. In the second half, the Panthers only got as close as five points early at 31-26, but a 12-5 run by the Scarlet Knights put the game out of reach.

Senior Cheron Taylor (Detroit, Mich./Martin Luther King) was honored prior to the game in her last appearance at the Petersen Events Center, and responded with a 10-rebound effort in 30 minutes of action. The Panthers got 12 points from Mallorie Winn (San Diego, Calif./Bishop's/Georgia Tech) and nine points and eight rebounds from freshman Shavonte Zellous (Orlando, Fla./Jones). Zellous played a season-high 37 minutes and provided a spark on several occasions for the Panthers.

The Panthers close the 2005-06 regular season at Notre Dame (16-10, 7-8) on Tuesday, Feb. 28, at the Joyce Center. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.

NOTES:Pitt scored a season-low 50 points and only shot 30.4 percent from the floor...the Panthers committed only 11 turnovers in the contest, but Rutgers only committed six giveaways against the Pitt defense.