Pittsburgh Panthers women's basketball

History

Women's intercollegiate varsity basketball at the University of Pittsburgh began during the 1914–1915 season and found early success until 1926–1927 after which it was disbanded in favor of intramural sports programs. Varsity basketball for women was reinstated during the 1970–1971 season. Although participants were awarded varsity letters and competed intercollegiately, the program wasn't taken over by the Athletic Department until the 1974–1975 season. During the 1970s, the team earned several EAIAW regional tournament appearances. Pitt began competing in the Big East Conference in 1982, and the Panthers won the Big East regular season championship in 1984. Pitt appeared in the National Women's Invitational Tournament in 1981 and 1994 as well as the Women's National Invitation Tournament in 2000 and 2006 before earning its first ever NCAA tournament appearance in 2007, where they advanced to the second round before losing to eventual national champion Tennessee. The Panthers then advanced to the Sweet Sixteen in 2008 and 2009, and made their fifth straight post-season tournament appearance in the WNIT in 2010. On April 12, 2013, Pitt hired Suzie McConnell-Serio to replace Berenato as head coach. Pitt moved to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) beginning with the 2013–14 season.

Postseason

NCAA (4): 2007, 2008, 2009, 2015

Pitt reached the "Sweet Sixteen" in 2008 and 2009.

NWIT and WNIT (5): 1981, 1994, 2000, 2006, 2010

Pitt was the NWIT Consolation Winner in 1981 (5th Place), won the NWIT Third Place game in 1994, and reached the WNIT "Final Four" in 2006.

EAIAW regional championship tournaments (6): 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981

Honors

All Americans

• Jennifer Bruce, 1984–85 WBCA All-District All-American
• Lorri Johnson, 1990–91 WBCA All-District All-American
• Jonna Huemrich, 1993–94 Honorable Mention All-American
• Marcedes Walker, 2006–07 WBCA District I All-American
• Marcedes Walker, 2007–08 WBCA District I All-American
• Shavonte Zellous, 2008–09 AP Third Team All-American and WBCA Region I All-American

Academic All-Americans

Pam Miklasevich, 1981 College Sports Information Directors of America

Conference honors

• Jennifer Bruce won Big East Player of the Year in 1984
• Judy Saurer won Big East Coach of the Year in 1984
• Jonna Huemrich won Big East Rookie of the Year in 1991
• Traci Waites won Big East Coach of the Year in 2000
• Shavonte Zellous won Big East Most Improved Player in 2007
• Liatu King won ACC Most Improved Player in 2024

Points club

22 total Panther players have achieved the 1,000 points club with three scoring over 2,000 points.

*Winn played at Georgia Tech from 2002 to 2004 prior to transferring to Pitt. She scored 812 of her 1,028 career points at Pitt.

PPG = points per game

Retired jerseys

• Jennifer Bruce #12
• Lorri Johnson #24

WNBA

The following former Pitt basketball players have or are currently playing in the WNBA.

• Laine Selwyn, Indiana Fever, 2008
• Marcedes Walker, Houston Comets, 2008
• Shavonte Zellous, Detroit Shock, 2009–2021

Draft

The following players were selected in the WNBA draft.

• 2009 Shavonte Zellous, 1st round, 11th pick, Detroit Shock
• 2015 Brianna Kiesel, 2nd round, 13th pick, Tulsa Shock

Year by year results

Pitt's varsity women's basketball program, the only women's varsity sport at the school during that time, was started in the 1914–15 season and continued until 1926–1927 when it was dropped in favor of a program of intramural women's athletics that could provide more opportunities for the female students at the university. The varsity women's basketball program was revived for the 1970–71 season and moved under the auspices of the athletic department in 1974–75. Records prior to the 1974–75 are largely incomplete (see notes).

References

References

1. [http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=pittyearbooks&cc=pittyearbooks&idno=1926e49702&node=1926e49702%3A1&frm=frameset&view=image&seq=373 The Owl, 1926, University of Pittsburgh, pg. 373]
2. [http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=pittyearbooks&cc=pittyearbooks&idno=1916e49702&node=1916e49702%3A18&frm=frameset&view=image&seq=314 The Owl, 1916, University of Pittsburgh, pg. 314]
3. [https://web.archive.org/web/20110524202733/http://www.cstv.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/pitt/sports/w-baskbl/auto_pdf/2006-07MediaGuide 2006–07 Pitt Women's Basketball Media Guide, University of Pittsburgh]
4. Associated Press. (April 12, 2013). "Pitt hires Suzie McConnell-Serio". ESPN.com.
5. (2012-03-08). "CoSIDA Academic All-American All-Time List (by School)". College Sports Information Directors of America.
6. (18 November 2011). "Media Guide". Pittsburgh.
7. "Pitt Yearbooks | Documenting Pitt".
8. 1916 Owl, Pg. 309
9. 1917 Owl pg. 308
10. 1918 Owl pg. 72
11. 1919 Owl pg. 376
12. 1920 Owl pg. 270
13. 1921 Owl pg. 438
14. 1922 Owl pg 313
15. 1923 Owl pg. 368
16. 1924 Owl. Pg. 330
17. 1925 Owl pg. 218
18. (2006). "2006–07 Temple Women's Basketball Media Guide". Temple University.
19. 1926 Owl. Pg. 357
20. 1927 Owl pg. 318
21. "NYU Women's Basketball Media Guide".
22. 1928 Owl pg. 304
23. 1971 Owl pg. 218
24. Hail to Pitt: A Sports History of the University of Pittsburgh, Jim O'Brien, 1982, Wolfson Publishing, p. 287
25. 1972 Owl pg. 488
26. 1973 Owl pg. 245
27. 1974 Owl pg. 144