Marcedes Walker Named to Big East Conference All-Freshmen Team

3/4/2005

Walker also received All-Big East Honorable Mention Honors at Friday's League Championship Banquet.

HARTFORD, Conn. – Pittsburgh freshman Marcedes Walker was named to the Big East Conference All-Freshmen Team as well as being named All-Big East Honorable Mention, announced tonight at the league championship banquet.

Walker (Philadelphia, Pa./University City) becomes the first Panther to earn All-Big East honors as a freshman. She also is the first Pittsburgh rookie to earn All-Freshman plaudits since Mandy Wittenmyer merited the recognition during her first year in 1999-2000.

Despite suffering a season-ending shoulder injury prior to the Panthers’ final regular-season game, Walker made an immediate impact in the Big East. She finished the season leading the league in five categories, including rebounding (9.1 avg.), total rebounds (236), field goal percentage (48.9 percent), offensive rebounding (4.4 avg.) and total offensive rebounds (113).

Walker averaged 13.3 points and 9.1 rebounds per game while starting all 26 contests in which she played. In Big East games, she upped her averages by posting 14.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game while hitting 50.0 percent from the field, all of which were tops among freshmen in the conference.

A two-time honoree as the Big East Freshman of the Week, Walker posted nine double-doubles on the year to rank third in the conference. She led the team in scoring in 12 games this year and rebounding 15 times.

Pittsburgh, the No. 10 seed in the Big East Tournament, opens against No. 7 seed West Virginia on Saturday night. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. at the Hartford Civic Center as the Panthers look to avenge a 61-55 setback to the Mountaineers earlier this season (Feb. 16) at the Petersen Events Center.