May 12, 2006

PITTSBURGH - The 2006-07 home and away conference opponents have been announced for the upcoming women's basketball season. The Big East released all 16 teams' opponents but dates and times will be announced later.

Pitt is coming off a 22-11 season, in which the Panthers tied the school record for victories and advanced to the semifinals of the WNIT with three postseason wins. The 16-game conference schedule features a home and away game against one opponent and one game (seven home, seven away) against the other 14 schools.

For the second consecutive season, the Panthers will face the USF Bulls twice during the regular season. Pitt won both meetings last year in dramatic fashion on buzzer-beaters by senior Mallorie Winn (San Diego, Calif./Bishop's/Georgia Tech). The home Big East scheudule for the Panthers will feature games against NCAA tournament teams DePaul, Notre Dame and St. John's, and three more teams that advanced to the WNIT, including Cincinnati, Marquette and Villanova. The Panthers will also host West Virginia at the Petersen Events Center - one of eight first- and second-round sites for the 2007 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship.

In addition to traveling to Tampa to play USF, the Panthers will also visit Connecticut, Georgetown, Louisville, Providence, Rutgers, Seton Hall and Syracuse. UConn, Louisville and Rutgers all advanced to the NCAA tournament in March.