March 14, 2006

PITTSBURGH - For just the fourth time in the 32-year history of the program, the Pitt women's basketball team will be heading to a postseason tournament. The Panthers earned a berth in the WNIT and will play Delaware on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Petersen Events Center.

The Panthers (19-10) finished in a tie for sixth place in the Big East Conference and won a game in the Big East Championship for the first time in a decade. They earned a bye in the 40-team field and will host the Fightin' Blue Hens (22-7), who finished third in the Colonial Athletic Association.

Pitt is 4-3 in three prior WNIT appearances in 1981, 1994 and 2000, and will play Delaware for the fourth time in school history. The Panthers have won all three prior meetings in 1979, 1989 and 1992 - two coming in the Lady Panther Invitational.

The Panthers' 19 victories are the most since finishing 21-10 in 1993-94 and tied for the fourth-most in school history. All-Big East honorees Marcedes Walker (Philadelphia, Pa./University City) and Mallorie Winn (San Diego, Calif./Bishop's/Georgia Tech) will lead the Panthers against the Fightin' Blue Hens and their All-CAA honoree and Defensive Player of the Year Tyresa Smith, who is among the nation's leaders in steals.

The winner of the Pitt-Delaware game will play Mississippi, Kansas or Northern Iowa in the second round of the tournament on Monday or Tuesday, March 20-21.