Women’s Basketball: Panthers heading to WNIT, fifth straight postseason

For the fifth straight season, and only the eighth time in school history, the Pitt… For the fifth straight season, and only the eighth time in school history, the Pitt women’s basketball team is heading to the postseason.

While the Panthers (16-13, 5-11 Big East) trailed off once conference play started, dropping their first five Big East games, they will compete in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament. Pitt plays Toledo (24-8, 12-4 Mid-American Conference) Friday at 7 p.m. in the first round.

“We’re just really excited we’re in a tournament,” Pitt head coach Agnus Berenato said in a press release. “It’s our fifth straight postseason appearance and a new challenge for us, another opportunity to compete and play in the WNIT. We’re really excited for the opportunity.”

Pitt last played in the WNIT in the 2005-06 season, and won its first three games. The Panthers beat Delaware 64-57, Mississippi 85-76 and Virginia 68-58. The Panthers then lost in the semifinals to Marquette 77-64.

The following year Pitt made its first NCAA Tournament appearance, its first of three straight appearances with the Panthers making the Sweet 16 the previous two years.

The Panthers will travel to Toledo for the game, where the Rockets are 12-1 this season. The Panthers, however, are just 6-8 on the road this year and have lost three of their last four away games.

Toledo boasts three players who average in double figures with Tanika Mays (14.8 points a game), Naama Shafir (13.8 points per game) and Melissa Goodall (10.1 points per game). Mays is Toledo’s leading rebounder, pulling down 7.2 boards a contest, and Shafir leads the Rockets averaging 6.8 assists per game.

“I know Toledo is a really good team from the MAC,” Berenato said in the same release. “It’s always great to play teams from other conferences, and I’m looking forward to going to Toledo this week. They’re well coached, a very good point guard and some girls that can score, so it will be a challenge. But we are excited to have the opportunity to play.”

The Panthers also have three players averaging double digit points in Jania Sims (13 points per game), Taneisha Harrison (12.7 points per game) and Shayla Scott (10.4 points per game). Sims leads Pitt by averaging 3.8 assists a game, and Chelsea Cole finished first in the Big East in rebounding, averaging 11.3 boards a game.

The winner of the game plays the winner of the Kent State and Michigan game. The date and location of that game will be announced once the first round is completed. If the Panthers want to get to the semifinals, or even further, this year, it will take a bit more effort. For the first time in its 13-year history, the WNIT has 64 teams, expanded from the previous 48 teams.