Showdown Saturday

The Pitt women’s basketball team faces one of its biggest challenges of the season Saturday… The Pitt women’s basketball team faces one of its biggest challenges of the season Saturday when the Big East-leading Rutgers Scarlet Knights visit the Petersen Events Center for the Panthers’ final home game.

Riding a three-game winning streak, the Panthers look to finish 9-3 at home while adding a marquee win to their NCAA tournament resume.

“We believe that we should definitely be considered for the NCAA tournament,” Pitt head coach Agnus Berenato said. “We’re over .500 in the Big East and we have some big road wins. We need to keep winning, but I think we are tournament material.”

The Panthers (18-7 overall, 9-5 Big East) beat West Virginia Sunday to climb into a tie for third place in the Big East.

Rutgers (22-3, 14-0 Big East) takes a 10-game winning streak into Pittsburgh with the intention of staying undefeated in conference play.

The Scarlet Knights will cap off a two-game road trip at the Petersen Events Center after crushing Marquette 71-50 Wednesday night.

Rutgers – ranked seventh in the AP poll and eighth in the Coaches’ poll – allows just 51.8 points per game while holding their opponents to 36 percent shooting through 24 games this season.

How can Pitt score against the nation’s fourth best defense?

“We have to be patient and fearless on offense,” Berenato said. “We need to make good passes, take the right shots and set good screens. If we are honest with ourselves and shoot the good, open shots, we can be productive.”

Pitt needs strong performances from stars Mallorie Winn and Marcedes Walker, who score 48 percent of Pitt’s points.

“Marcedes is going to get her points and produce in the post,” Berenato said. “Mallorie will have to work to get her teammates involved because they will be pressuring her. She will get her shots and hit them. She has enough confidence to compete against a good team like Rutgers.”

Pitt’s defense will need to stop Rutgers star and Naismith Player of the Year candidate Cappie Pondexter – who is averaging 21.2 points per game – if they expect to win.

“You really can’t shut down Cappie because she is just that good,” Berenato said. “This game is five-on-five, so we have to make sure to play good team defense on everyone else and help out when Cappie has the ball.”

Pondexter shoots 48 percent from 3-point land and 50 percent from the field. Combined with sophomore guard Matee Ajavon, the backcourt shoots 46 percent and handles half of Rutgers’ scoring.

According to Berenato, the young trio of Xenia Stewart, Shavonte Zellous and Maddy Brown play critical supporting roles in Saturday’s contest.

“They are playing like players now, not freshmen,” Berenato said. “They will take care of their business and focus on what we’re trying to do.”

The recent return of Karlyle Lim and the improved play of Sylvie Tafen gives Pitt a nine-player rotation, something that could nullify one of Rutgers’ strengths – depth.

The Scarlet Knights use 10 players regularly, which has helped them to eight road victories in the 2005-2006 campaign.

Last season, Rutgers demolished Pitt at the Petersen Events Center, 63-42. In the minds of the returning players and Berenato, this year will be different.

“Last year, we couldn’t handle the pressure they put on us,” Berenato said. “Our guards just weren’t capable of playing through their waves of pressure. This year we have better ball handlers. They will step up their play.”

After losing two straight in mid-January, Pitt has won six of seven in conference play, mainly by making the Petersen Events Center feel like home, tallying a 5-2 record at the Pete in Big East play.

“We just have the athletes to compete at a much higher level this year,” Berenato said. “We’ve improved in every category this season and that’s why we get wins.”

Saturday’s tip-off is set for 2 p.m.