Aug. 26, 2007

PITTSBURGH - The word is out. No more sneaking up on anyone. The Pitt women's basketball program is no longer a secret.

After a landmark 2006-07 season, which included the school's first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament, the Panthers are looking to add to the record book of "firsts" from last year's success.

"The team knows they have a target on their backs this season," Head Coach Agnus Berenato said. "We plan on avoiding upsets by what we do in the summer. These girls came here to be the hunted and this is what they have been waiting for."

Morale from team supporters was down after the season-ending injury suffered by All-Big East point guard Mallorie Winn (San Diego, Calif./Bishop/Georgia Tech) to start the 2006-07 season. But the team responded in her absence by winning a school-record 24 games.

Returning from that team is 93.0 percent of the points scored last season and 91.5 percent of the starts. The only player not returning from that team is Danielle Taylor, who earned her degree in administration of justice in May and finished the season contributing 4.7 points and 2.8 rebounds per game.

The addition of Winn to an already explosive nucleus makes for great possibility for the upcoming year.

"Mallorie's return gives this team experience, confidence and added depth," Berenato said. "It is exciting to be able to add her back to the lineup after the NCAA granted her another season. She is what a student-athlete is all about."

This season, Winn, along with Pitt's five starters from that record-breaking season, return along with a cast of three letterwinners and five promising newcomers.

Most notable returners are center Marcedes Walker (Philadelphia, Pa./University City) and guard Shavonte Zellous (Orlando, Fla./Jones). Walker was named Pitt's first WBCA District I All-America in 16 years, while Zellous earned the distinction of the Big East's Most Improved Player in 2007. Zellous earned the distinction after upping her scoring average over 12 points in one season. Zellous and Walker were also named to the All-Big East First Team. The duo combined to be one of the country's most lethal inside/outside combinations.

Different from last season, however, will be players fighting for playing time. Nine players graced the roster in 2006-07 but 14 will suit up for the Panthers this year, giving Berenato numerous options off the bench.

"With the team we have coming into the season, we will be able to play the type of basketball that we like to play," Berenato said. "We believe in maximizing effort and rotating players in and out for an up-tempo and defensive game. Last season we weren't able to do that because we would have too many players in foul trouble, but now we have five more people to distribute minutes to."

The Panthers will need a healthy roster to face their daunting schedule which includes 11 NCAA Tournament teams and five WNIT teams. A Nov. 27 trip to preseason No. 2 Maryland and a Dec. 8 meeting at Madison Square Garden with No. 6 Duke highlights the non-conference schedule. The game against the Blue Devils will be a part of the Maggie Dixon Classic, along with Army vs. Rutgers, with the games honoring Pitt men's basketball coach Jamie Dixon's late sister.

Pitt will host NCAA teams Connecticut, Louisville, Rutgers and West Virginia during the conference season, as well as Georgetown, Providence, Seton Hall and Syracuse.

"We have a very difficult schedule, but you have to have courage that you can compete and win those games," Berenato stated. "Teams schedule this way for a reason and most times you learn your weaknesses early on and adjust as the season goes on and continue to get better. Our philosophy is `give me your best shot'."

GUARDS
Sophomore Jania Sims (Newark, N.J./Shabazz) returns as the team's starting point guard after a successful rookie season in which she was named to the Big East All-Rookie Team. Sims could possibly split time at the point with Winn, but the likely scenario will be Winn moving to the shooting guard spot.

Sims, who is known for her exciting play, finished the season with a team-high 152 assists and scored 5.8 points per game while starting 29 of 33 contests.

Also in the hunt is senior guard Karlyle Lim (Chapel Hill, N.C./East Chapel Hill), who has shown consistent improvement throughout the last year and will challenge Simms for playing time at the point. Lim earned a start in four games in 2006-07 and grew in her leadership role on the team.

Zellous, an All-Big East First Team member, returns as the team's leading scorer with 19.1 points per game as she started all 33 games for the Panthers at the two guard. This season, Zellous is expected to move to the wing and possibly play forward along with Xenia Stewart (Bowie, Md./Riverdale Baptist).

Sophomore Ashleigh Braxton (Woodbridge, Va./Forest Park) returns to the team after playing in all 33 games last season. Braxton will be the team's go-to player behind the arc this season with one year of experience under her belt.

Braxton is joined by newcomers ASHLEY HENDERSON (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic), a 5-11 freshman; 6-0 freshman TANEISHA HARRISON (Bowie, Md./St. John's College High) and 6-1 freshman SHAYLA SCOTT (Monroeville, Pa./Gateway). Scott is the daughter of former Pitt great Jennifer Bruce Scott.

"Taneisha might be our best-kept secret," Berenato said. "She is a very similar player to Xenia Stewart and has upped her game significantly since signing with us. We are thrilled to get her out on the court."

FORWARDS/POSTS
Zellous and Stewart will be interchangeable at the three and four positions and should bear the load of most of the playing time on the wing. Stewart was the team's defensive front last season, holding numerous all-star players to well below their scoring average.

Sylvie Tafen (Yaoundi, Cameroon/Mount de Chantal Visitation Academy) is coming off a successful sophomore season in which she started 20 of her 32 games. Tafen will be joined by incoming redshirt sophomore Sophronia Sallard (Syracuse, N.Y./Nottingham/Kansas). Sallard enters her first season with the Panthers after sitting out 2006-07 due to transfer rules. She is expected to immediately step in and contribute to the team.

"I believe Phro (Sophronia) is going to shock people," Berenato said. "She has been such a pleasure since she got here and I truly feel she is going to take the Big East by storm. Every day she pushes the girls in practice. Last year she made us a better team and this year we are able to get her out on the court and see what she can do."

Under the basket is one of the most feared players in the league in Walker. At 6-3, she is tough, but skilled on her feet, bringing in 15 double-doubles on the year and 37 in her career. She in on pace to become one of just two players in Pitt history to reach 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in a career.

Walker will be complimented by sophomore Selena Nwude (Riverdale, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt). Nwude sat out the postseason with a season-ending knee injury in the final regular season game at Georgetown but was becoming a significant contributor towards the end of her season. The 6-5 center will be back on the hardwood this year, but a time frame has yet to be determined.

Pitt has just one incoming freshman to add to the forwards/posts lineup. CHELSEA COLE (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley), a 6-3 forward, will battle for playing time, averaging 19 points and 17 rebounds during her senior season.