Women’s basketball star Mallorie Winn out for season

John Quincy Adams and basketball normally don’t mix, but when Pitt women’s basketball… John Quincy Adams and basketball normally don’t mix, but when Pitt women’s basketball announced the season-ending knee injury of Mallorie Winn Monday, one of his more famous quotes came to mind: “Courage and perseverance have a magical talisman, before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish into thin air.”

Winn, a 5-10 senior guard, will miss the entire 2006-07 season, needing reconstructive surgery to repair her injured knee. The San Diego native averaged 15.8 points and four assists in 33 contests last season for the Panthers.

“Obviously we as a staff are very disappointed for Mallorie,” Pitt head coach Agnus Berenato said. “Right now, this is not about the team, this is about us supporting her. Mallorie is in great hands with the doctors of UPMC and has the best medical facilities at her disposal.”

The injury delivers a stomach punch to the Panthers’ season, after Street ‘ Smith’s ranked Pitt No. 24 in its preseason poll. Winn was chosen as a captain by her teammates in her first official season with Pitt, and is the only Panther on the current roster with NCAA tournament experience.

“She came with us at Georgia Tech to the NCAA [Tournament] in 2003,” Berenato said. “And with us expecting to play in the tournament this year, her experience would really help us. You can tell she is on a personal mission to get back to the tournament and show her teammates what it’s like to be there.”

Winn graduated from Bishop’s High in 2002, leading the Knights to the California Division IV state title in 2001. Her father coached her, and helped attract attention from recruiting college coaches around the country.

“We actually had one of our point guards go down that offseason and we really needed to find a replacement at that slot,” Berenato said. “[Then Georgia Tech assistant coach] Jeff Williams knew about Mallorie and thought she would be a great addition to our program.”

Williams and Berenato spoke with Winn on the phone, initially impressed by her even-keeled approach to basketball and life. And when they met in person, they were even more taken by the young player’s confidence both on and off the court.

“We knew what we were getting when she decided to come to Georgia Tech,” Berenato said. “We had spoken with her on the phone, and then when we met her, we were really excited with the kind of kid we were getting.”

Winn spent two years with the Yellow Jackets, and still speaks highly of the city and school, but she averaged just 7.4 points per game her freshman season in limited action and 5.1 points her sophomore year. When Berenato and Williams headed to Pittsburgh, the disenfranchised sophomore was ready to follow.

“I just knew that it would be more comfortable playing with the coaches that recruited me and knew my style of play,” Winn said.

Berenato believes Winn’s decision came when Georgia Tech’s new coach, MaChelle Joseph, didn’t quite seem to be on the same page as the guard.

“She came to Pitt on her own accord,” Berenato said. “We never talked her into transferring or anything. I think it was just a clean break for her and the coach down there, they just didn’t see eye-to-eye, and Mallorie thought the decision would work out best for her. The chemistry was here, with Jeff and me, so when we found out she was coming, it was like Christmas again in May.”

Winn came to Pitt and sat out the 2004-2005 season, as the Panthers struggled to a 13-15 record. In Winn’s first season with Pitt, the team tied the program record with 22 wins. And Winn earned All-Women’s National Invitational Tournament Team honors after the Panthers bowed out of the tournament in the semifinals.

“She has really changed the way she looks at conditioning, training and everything around basketball,” Berenato said. “She just loves the game and loves being around the game. Her motivation is never lacking.”

When the 2006-2007 season approached, Big East coaches named her to the Preseason All-Big East team. She was the key talking point of every Berenato press conference. And now, with her absence slashing a major gash in the Panthers’ postseason hopes, Berenato needs to find a new leader and wing scorer.

But with a quality group of players waiting for their chances to shine, the obstacle forces the youngsters to step up.

“The great thing about our team this year is that we will use this adversity to get stronger,” Berenato said. “We have a lot of confidence in our players and they have already stepped up and taken on the leadership and the challenge that Mallorie’s absence leaves.”

Berenato will put her team to the test Nov. 15, when Pitt hosts California (Pa.) in its opening contest of the season. In the meantime, Winn will petition for a sixth year of eligibility, which would allow her to return for the 2007-08 campaign.