Star guard Mallorie Winn will return for one more season with Pitt women’s basketball. The… Star guard Mallorie Winn will return for one more season with Pitt women’s basketball. The NCAA granted Winn a sixth year of eligibility March 29.

Winn suffered a season-ending knee injury during preseason practice in early November before Pitt played any official games. The San Diego native and Georgia Tech transfer appealed to the NCAA following her injury, writing a letter pleading her case.

“It would have been extremely tough to end my career on an injury,” Winn said in a release.

It took some time for a response, but when the news came, Pitt head coach Agnus Berenato expressed her appreciation for the NCAA’s decision.

“We are really excited and want to thank the NCAA for considering the best interests of Mallorie Winn,” Berenato said in the same release. “This is a great opportunity for Mallorie, and we are excited to coach her on and off the court for one more year.”

Winn returns to a team filled with experience. Pitt returns four starters – the team’s four top scorers – and four reserves.

“We have so many people coming back next year,” Winn said. “It’s already exciting thinking about it.”

With Winn, Berenato’s Bunch now features seven guards on its roster. Throw in recruit Shayla Scott, a 6-1 wing from Pittsburgh-area high school Gateway, and the Panthers’ perimeter is jam-packed with talent.

“As much fun as it was seeing the team do well without me, I wanted to contribute,” Winn said. “Not to sound selfish or anything, but I want to be a part of it all. I want to be with this team next year.”

Post presence Marcedes Walker, Winn’s partner in crime during the 2005-2006 season, anchors the middle for the Panthers. The 6-3 junior will be back for one more season, and Winn’s return makes Walker confident that next season will be even better than Pitt’s historic 2006-2007 campaign, which saw Pitt reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament in its first-ever trip to the Big Dance.

“This is really great news because Mallorie is another leader for us,” Walker said. “[Her return] makes us contenders in the Big East. It’ll keep right us where we were this year.”

In a preseason filled with high expectations, the buzz surrounded the fifth-year senior Winn.

She was the team’s second-highest scorer in the 2005-2006 season, averaging 15.8 points per game. The 5-10 guard garnered WNIT All-Tournament Team and All-Big East Second Team honors and, prior to the start of the 2006-2007 season, was named to the Preseason All-Big East team.

Winn’s 5-10 frame created matchup problems on the wing for Big East and non-conference opponents alike. Her inside-outside ability, paired with the dominant Walker, made Pitt contenders for the Big East crown and an NCAA Tournament bid.

But a faulty landing on a jump-stop in practice blew out Winn’s knee, sending the guard to the floor and Pitt’s high hopes south.

It’s going to be a long road back to the hardwood for Winn. She has at least another month of rehabilitation before she can start running and exercising regularly again. She’s been rehabilitating for four months.

“It’s such a long process, so you have to be patient,” Winn said.

As far as playing basketball and participating in drills, the schedule is long-term.

“Basketball is different than just jogging,” Winn said. “With each player, it’s different. It really depends on the person and how comfortable they are doing certain things.”

Winn’s certain she will be thinking about the injury the first few trips onto the floor. But she admits that fear of re-injuring her knee comes with the territory.

“Well, when I first get back out there, it’ll be hard not to think about [the injury],” Winn said. “I’ll have that fear of getting hurt again in the back of my mind.”

Still, with the stakes raised already, seven months before the new season and just two weeks removed from the last, doctors, coaches and Winn will all be taking every step slowly.

“I’m not coming back fully until the doctors, coaches and I all agree I am 100 percent,” Winn said. “We aren’t going to take any risks. Everyone around me understands that and they are going to be cautious with each move.”

Winn won’t be 100 percent happy until she is back on the floor, playing to her full potential.

“I want to get back to where I was as a player,” Winn said. “I want to be able to do the same things I did before I got hurt. Once I get back to that point, hopefully I can take things farther and improve.”

Winn immediately applied to graduate school programs at Pitt following the NCAA’s ruling. She sent applications to GSPIA, the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, and the Center for Bioethics and Health Law.