Women look to qualify for Big east Tournament

There are two games left, and both are must-wins for the Pitt women’s basketball team…. There are two games left, and both are must-wins for the Pitt women’s basketball team.

Saturday marks the final road trip of the season for the Panthers, as they head to Blacksburg, Va., to take on No. 25 Virginia Tech. The Panthers need two wins to even have a chance to make the Big East Tournament.

“Until we are mathematically out of it, we are going to keep going as if we are going to the tournament,” head coach Agnus Berenato said.

Pitt will try to snap a 10-game losing streak Saturday against the Hokies. Last Saturday, Pitt almost upset of Notre Dame, eventually falling 72-68. The four-point loss was the closest Pitt had come to a victory during the 10-game losing streak.

Playing in front of more than 7,000 fans last Saturday, the Panthers played with aggressiveness not seen in a long time. Head coach Agnus Berenato was upset that the team had seven days off between the Notre Dame game and tomorrow’s game with the Hokies because she wants to keep the intensity flowing.

After giving the team Sunday and Monday off, Berenato tried everything in her power to make practices as hard and game-like as possible, including making assistant coach and former UConn Husky Shea Ralph scrimmage with the team.

“I made [assistant coach] Jeff Williams and Shea Ralph play,” Berenato said. “They were talking a lot of smack. It was really great.”

Part of the reason for Pitt’s near upset was the play of Stacy Moore. Coming off the bench, Moore had eight points and four assists, but her defensive effort led to two steals and numerous defensive stops for the Panthers. Saturday, Moore will once again be called upon to be the spark against the Hokies.

“When given the opportunity Stacy [Moore] makes the most of it,” Berenato said. “I think there were a couple games she started and I don’t think that’s what Stacy really needs. She knows she is a role player. She feels like she is the spunk and the spark.”

The Hokies (19-6 overall, 8-6 Big East) are coming off of a 77-56 victory of Providence. In that game, Ieva Kublina had 19 points and Carrie Mason had 10. Both Mason and Kublina are the leaders of a Hokie team trying to improve its position in the Big East standings before tournament time.

“Nothing has changed about Virginia Tech,” Berenato said. “Mason is a great three-point threat, but at the same time, Kublina has turned it on recently, and she has really come along down the stretch.”

Starting center Allisha Morris will get the daunting task of guarding Kublina. Morris, who has regained her starting spot, has been on fire lately as she has made layups and also has been connecting on 10-foot jumpers.

“It’s in Allisha’s game to take three-point shots; she just won’t take them,” Berenato said. “She has a problem with her confidence. I’ve been trying to get her to just play.”

Latoya Kincaid doesn’t have a problem with her confidence. She is the leading scorer for the Panthers. Last Saturday, Kincaid scored a game-high 24 points and had three steals. When the Hokies visited Pitt in January, Kincaid came close to a double-double with 10 points and eight rebounds.

“Latoya did a phenomenal job against Notre Dame,” Berenato said. “They could not stop her. But we need everyone to play well.”

Pitt will need a team effort Saturday to defeat the Hokies. Game time is 2:30 in Cassell Coliseum.