Pitt hopes to knock off No. 8 Maryland

The Pitt women’s basketball team has only lost once this season ‘- a close 56-50 defeat at the… The Pitt women’s basketball team has only lost once this season ‘- a close 56-50 defeat at the hands of current No. 5 Texas A’amp;M. That was the first game of the regular season. Three weeks, five wins and a national ranking later, the No. 24 Panthers will take on their second ranked opponent on Sunday season as they play host to the No. 8 Maryland Terrapins at 2 p.m. at the Petersen Events Center. ‘It’s always a bigger challenge [to play a ranked team], especially with someone who’s in the top 10,’ said Pitt coach Agnus Berenato. ‘But our kids will be motivated. We have to play our best ball.’ Last season, the Panthers (5-1) faced Maryland under the same conditions. It was early in the season, and they went into the game with a 5-1 record. Pitt lost that game on the road 90-77. But the Panthers played well later in the game, outscoring the Terrapins in the second half 49-46. ‘We were shell-shocked last year,’ said Berenato. ‘Last year, the kids were in awe, and I don’t think you can go into the game in awe of anyone.’ But it’s a new season, and neither team has lost much lately. This year, Maryland has started with a 6-1 record going into last night’s game against Purdue, losing only its first game of the regular season to Texas Christian University. That loss propelled a quick drop from its preseason No. 3-ranking. Two of the players Pitt will be watching out for are seniors Marissa Coleman and Kristi Toliver, whom Berenato considers one of the best point guards in the country and has the potential to run a game by herself. ‘We have to really watch her and make sure she doesn’t open up,’ said Berenato. Toliver and Coleman are averaging 16.4 and 15.3 points per game, respectively. Pitt freshman center Kate Popovec had a breakout game against Duquesne on Wednesday. She scored 15 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. One of the main struggles Pitt will face Sunday are the injuries to starters Xenia Stewart and Shavonte Zellous, who both left Wednesday night’s game at Duquesne with sprained ankles. Berenato said that neither player will be able to practice today but hopes they’ll be cleared to play on Sunday.