Oct. 7, 2008

PITTSBURGH -

Pitt senior guard Shavonte Zellous has added another preseason honor to her growing list of accomplishments. The Sporting News has named Zellous a preseason third team All-America in their recent college basketball preview edition.

Zellous (Orlando, Fla./Jones), who is a two-time first team All-Big East member and was named to the Wooden Award and the Naismith Trophy midseason lists last season, was also named to Lindy’s preseason second team last week.

Zellous has led the Panthers in scoring the past two seasons and was named to the Spokane All-Region team as the only player not in the Regional finals named to the prestigious team.

At the Spokane Region, ESPN analyst Debbie Antonelli labeled Zellous “the best athlete in the region, and that includes (Stanford’s Wade Trophy winner) Candace Wiggins.”

Zellous has helped lead the Panthers to great milestones to date in her career, which include Pitt’s first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2007 and its first trip to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2008.

For the first time in school history, Pitt earned preseason and postseason rankings as the team was ranked No. 16 to conclude last season. In the 2008-09 preseason, Pitt has been ranked in the top 25 by both Lindy’s and Athlon.

The Panthers begin the 2008-09 season Nov. 16 in Baton Rouge, La., with a matchup against top 10-ranked Texas A&M in the State Farm Tip Off Classic. For more information on the upcoming season, visit www.pittsburghpanthers.com. For tickets, please contact the Panthers Ticket Office at 1-800-643-PITT (7488).