Panthers fall in Final Four

The women’s basketball team had hoped to turn the disappointment of not receiving a bid to the… The women’s basketball team had hoped to turn the disappointment of not receiving a bid to the NCAA tournament into the joy of winning the Women’s National Invitational Tournament.

That, too, ended disappointingly, however, as the Panthers’ run ended Monday night with a 77-64 loss to Marquette in Milwaukee, Wis., in the semifinals of the WNIT.

Even though many players shed tears after the loss, just like they did when they were snubbed from the tournament, all was not lost in the eyes of head coach Agnus Berenato.

“I feel like we didn’t get the title, but that doesn’t mean by any means that we’re a failure or we have negative [feelings],” Berenato told the Post-Gazette after the loss. ” I think that we probably exceeded everybody’s expectations. We tied for the most wins ever in the history of the program.”

And that’s exactly what Berenato’s players did this year. Their three consecutive wins in the WNIT not only advanced them to the WNIT’s version of the Final Four, but also improved their overall record to 22-10, a win plateau that hasn’t been reached since the 1980-1981 campaign.

The Panthers’ 23rd win would have matched them up in the WNIT final against either Kansas State or Western Kentucky, but Pitt fell apart against Big East opponent Marquette.

The Golden Eagles, who defeated Pitt in conference play Jan. 18, 71-62, once again proved to be too much for the Panthers on their home floor. Pitt missed all five of its 3-point attempts in the first half and quickly ended up on the wrong end of a 41-30 halftime score.

The Panthers, who were on the road for the first time in the WNIT, also felt the effects of a raucous crowd of 2,307 Marquette fans, something that gave the Eagles an edge in holding onto the lead.

By the end of the first half, not only were the Golden Eagles up by 11, they had dominated the game in nearly every aspect. They converted eight of nine free throws while Pitt missed five of seven. They dished out seven more assists and also led the rebounding battle by five.

“I think they got us back on our heels a little early,” Berenato told the Post-Gazette. “The crowd and the intensity really had an effect on us.”

Despite a few occurrences when Pitt cut Marquette’s lead to nine points and seven at times, the Panthers could never swing the momentum in their favor because of Marquette’s timely shooting.

After Pitt’s Maddy Brown hit a 3-pointer with 11 minutes remaining, Marquette’s Danielle Kamm answered on the next possession and took the ball hard to the hoop for a layup and a foul as the shot clock expired.

Kamm was a force inside all night as she finished the game with a double-double, 11 points and 10 rebounds. She was one of three Golden Eagles in double figures, but Pitt’s junior guard Mallorie Winn led all scorers with 21 points.

Although both teams finished the Big East regular season with identical 9-7 records, they were uneven in the box score. Marquette scored six more points in the paint (30-24), while dominating Pitt in second chance points, 21-8. It also got 32 points from three bench players while Pitt only got 10 points from two. Pitt was also out-rebounded by Marquette by 10. The Eagles also hit 22 of 26 free-throw attempts while the Panthers shot a dismal 7-of-18 from the stripe.

Still, the lopsided score sheet didn’t change Berenato’s attitude toward her players or what they have accomplished this season.

“They made a commitment to the University to change the program,” she said. “To really be difference-makers-I think what it says is, if you do things the right way, you reap what you sow.”

Berenato can only hope that her team’s deep run into the WNIT this year will lead to a berth into the NCAA tournament next year.

“I feel like all these ladies have learned. And we’ll be back next season.”