Nov. 4, 2009

ESPN/USA Today Preseason Rankings

PITTSBURGH -- The University of Pittsburgh women's basketball team enters the 2009-10 season ranked 22nd in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches preseason poll. The Panthers, one of five Big East teams to crack the list received 127 votes.

Connecticut received all 31 first-place votes to claim the number one spot while Notre Dame came in at seventh, Louisville at 19th, and DePaul at 25th to round out ranked Big East squads.

Pitt was ranked 23rd in last season's initial ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll before going on to its second straight Sweet 16 appearance and finishing the season in the No. 15 spot, the highest finish in school history.

The Panthers were voted fifth in the annual preseason coaches poll at Big East media day in late October for the second straight season. Despite being picked fifth last season, the Panthers finished third in the conference during the regular season, earned a four seed entering the NCAA Tournament - the highest in school history - and advanced to the Sweet 16.

The Panthers return four starters to this year's squad, including redshirt junior Jania Sims (Newark, N.J./Shabazz) who suffered a season-ending injury against Texas A&M at the State Farm Tip Off Classic in the season opener last year. Sims, an All-Big East Freshmen Team selection during the 2006-07 season will be joined by Shayla Scott (Monroeville, Pa./Gateway), the Panthers' leading returning scorer and rebounder from a year ago. Scott is making the move to guard this season and is expected to fill the leadership void created by the departure of All-America guard and three-time All-Big East pick Shavonte Zellous.

Pitt will play seven games on television this year, tying the school record set during the 2008-09 season. Among the featured games are back-to-back nationally televised games on ESPNU against Rutgers and West Virginia at the Petersen Events Center on Jan. 10th and 17th. The Panthers will also host both national title game participants in Connecticut and Louisville this year. The Louisville game, held on Valentine's Day, will mark Pitt's annual Pink the Petersen game.

This past season saw the league capture both the NCAA Championship and the WNIT Championship titles, becoming the only conference to win both in the same season. The league had two teams playing for the national title in Connecticut and Louisville, while USF was the WNIT champ.

The Big East Championship is scheduled for March 6-10 at the XL Center in Hartford, Conn. and the NCAA Tournament First and Second Rounds begin March 21-23 at the Petersen Events Center here in Pittsburgh. Tickets are on sale now through the Panther Ticket Office at (800) 643-PITT or visit online at www.PittsburghPanthers.com.