The Pitt women’s basketball team released its schedule for the 2010-11 season yesterday and it… The Pitt women’s basketball team released its schedule for the 2010-11 season yesterday and it looks to be one the teams’ toughest in recent memory.

In addition to its challenging Big East schedule, which includes traveling to Connecticut to face the two-time defending champion Huskies,  a home game against NCAA-Tournament team Notre Dame and a home-and-home series against rival West Virginia, the Panthers also have a daunting nonconference schedule.

They will host traditional powerhouse Duke on Nov. 24 after traveling to Minneapolis to kick off the season on Nov. 17 in the Big Six Challenge against Minnesota.

“This is the most challenging schedule that we’ve ever had,” Pitt coach Agnus Berenato said in a news release. “We start off in January by playing four of our first five conference games on the road. It is an extremely difficult stretch because we will be playing teams which advanced to postseason play last season and who are also at the top of our conference.”

The team will also travel across the country to take part in the Las Vegas Hoops Classic tournament where they will face Texas Tech on Dec. 29 and Texas-Arlington on Dec. 20.

“We wanted to make sure that we will be prepared for conference action by playing tough programs like Duke, Minnesota and Texas Tech,” Berenato said. “Duke is a top-five team. We are excited to play teams from the ACC, Big Ten and Big 12. Those games will give us an idea of where we stand early in the season.”

The team will begin preseason play on Nov. 5 with an exhibition game against Seton Hill at the Petersen Events Center.