Should the Panthers earn a berth to the 2007 NCAA Championships, they would be among the eight-team field at the Petersen Events Center. The exact dates and times for the tournament games will be released at a later date.

"This is exciting news for our athletic program, our women’s basketball program and the university community," Pitt athletic director Jeff Long said. "Our selection by the NCAA coincides with the renewed enthusiasm for our women’s basketball program under Coach Agnus Berenato’s leadership. This will certainly assist us in continuing to grow interest in Pitt women’s basketball in the city of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania.

"As a host of the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament, this event will also attract fans from outside the city and Western Pennsylvania area and we are pleased to contribute in bringing quality events to our region."

"I’m so excited about hosting the NCAA Tournament here at the Petersen Events Center," Pitt head coach Agnus Berenato said. "The facility is second to none and securing this bid makes a huge statement about the commitment our university has made to the women’s basketball program. It is our goal to make the field for the NCAA Tournament and to win a national championship."

There will be four first-round games and two second-round games played at the Petersen Events Center. The two second-round winners will advance to the regional semifinals, to be played in Dallas, Texas, Dayton, Ohio, Greensboro, N.C., and Fresno, Calif. The Petersen Events Center, which seats 12,508 spectators, was opened in 2002 and is the home of Pitt’s men’s and women’s basketball teams. In addition to all home basketball contests, numerous concerts have been held in the building as well as Pitt wrestling matches and the 2004 East Atlantic Gymnastics League Championships. The Petersen Events Center also served as the athlete headquarters for the 2005 Senior Olympic Games last month.

Frank Erwin Center (16,755)                             Austin, Texas                           University of Texas at Austin

Bresline Student Events Center (15,085)          East Lansing, Mich.                 Michigan State University

Hartford Civic Center (14,913)                          Hartford, Conn.                        University of Connecticut

Galen Center (10,280)                                     Los Angeles, Calif.                   University of Southern California

Williams Arena (14,669)                                  Minneapolis, Minn.                  University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

RBC Center (19,500)                                       Raleigh, N.C.                           North Carolina State University

Maples Pavilion (7,233)                                  Stanford, Calif.                         Stanford University