# Pittsburgh Panthers women's basketball

Pittsburgh Panthers women's basketball is the NCAA Division I intercollegiate women's basketball program of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Pitt women's basketball team competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference and plays their home games in the Petersen Events Center. The university first sponsored women's basketball on the varsity level in 1914 and have appeared in five straight national post-season tournaments between 2006 and 2010.

## 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.
| Lorri Johnson, 1987–91; 2,312 points, 20.5 PPG Jennifer Bruce, 1981–85; 2,295 points, 20.5 PPG Shavonte Zellous, 2005–09; 2,251 points, 16.9 PPG Debbie Lewis, 1977–82; 1,941 points, 15.4 PPG Brianna Kissel, 2011-2015; 1938 points, 15.9 PPG Mercedes Walker, 2004–08; 1,870 points, 15.0 PPG Jonna Huemrich, 1990–94; 1,807 points, 15.6 PPG Pam Miklasevich, 1979–83; 1,637 points, 16.0 PPG Wanda Randolph, 1976–79; 1,479 points, 19.0 PPG Taneisha Harrison, 2007–2011; 1,372 points, 10.6 PPG Laine Selwyn, 1999–2003; 1,344 points, 12.1 PPG | Xenia Stewart, 2005–2009; 1,330 points, 10.1 PPG Latia Howard, 1994–97; 1,155 points, 13.1 PPG Mandy Wittenmyer, 1999–2003; 1,152 points, 12.0 PPG Brooke Stewart, 1999–2003; 1,114 points, 10.0 PPG Connie Hurt, 1987–91; 1,103 points, 10.5 PPG Jania Sims, 2006–2011; 1,097, 10.1 PPG Yacine Diop, 2014–18; 1,093 points, 11.5 PPG Dayshanette Harris, 2019-2023; 1085, 10.6 PPG Jennifer Shingler, 1986–90; 1,081 points, 10.0 PPG Liatu King, 2020-2024; 1073 points, 10.5 PPG (through 2/18/24) Mallorie Winn*, 2002–2008; 1,028 points, 9.9 PPG |
*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–present

### 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).
| Season | Coach | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | Coaches' poll | AP poll | Notes |
| H. H. Provin (1914–1920) |||||||||
| 1914–15 | H. H. Provin | ?-1 | — | — | | | | incomplete records, reported all wins but 1 loss |
| 1915–16 | H. H. Provin | 7–0 | — | — | | | | |
| 1916–17 | H. H. Provin | 6–0 | — | — | | | | |
| 1917–18 | H. H. Provin | 9–1 | — | — | | | | |
| 1918–19 | H. H. Provin | 8–0 | — | — | | | | not including win over Alumnae |
| 1919–20 | H. H. Provin | 8–0 | — | — | | | | one win by forfeit |
| H. H. Provin: | H. H. Provin: | incomplete | – | | | | | |
| A. Lemon Arnold (1920–1921) |||||||||
| 1920–21 | A. Lemon Arnold | 9–0 | — | — | | | | 3 game results unknown |
| A. Lemon Arnold: | A. Lemon Arnold: | incomplete | – | | | | | |
| Margaret A. McClenahan (1921–1927) |||||||||
| 1921–22 | Margaret A. McClenahan | 6–1 | — | — | | | | incomplete records |
| 1922–23 | Margaret A. McClenahan | 6–3–1 | — | — | | | | one tie, not including win over Freshman |
| 1923–24 | Margaret A. McClenahan | 8–1 | — | — | | | | not including win over Alumnae; 2 wins over Temple found only in Temple's media guide |
| 1924–25 | Margaret A. McClenahan | 9–0 | — | — | | | | not including win over Alumnae |
| 1925–26 | Margaret A. McClenahan | 2-? | — | — | | | | 7-game season, incomplete records |
| 1926–27 | Margaret A. McClenahan | 4–2 | — | — | | | | not including win over Alumnae |
| Margaret A. McClenahan: | Margaret A. McClenahan: | incomplete | – | | | | | |
| No Program (1927–1970) |||||||||
| Sandra Bullman (1970–1974) |||||||||
| 1970–71 | Sandra Bullman | 9–2 | — | — | | | | individual game results unknown |
| 1971–72 | Sandra Bullman | 4–2 | — | — | | | | |
| 1972–73 | Sandra Bullman | ?-? | — | — | | | | unknown results |
| 1973–74 | Sandra Bullman | ?-? | — | — | | | | unknown results |
| Sandra Bullman: | Sandra Bullman: | incomplete | – | | | | | |
| Jean Condo (1974–1975) |||||||||
| 1974–75 | Jean Condo | 10–6 | — | — | | | | |
| Jean Condo: | Jean Condo: | 10–6 | – | | | | | |
| Pat Wallace (1975–1977) |||||||||
| 1975–76 | Pat Wallace | 16–8 | — | — | EAIAW Regional (3–1, consolation champions) | | | |
| 1976–77 | Pat Wallace | 19–8 | — | — | EAIAW Regional (1–2) | | | |
| Pat Wallace: | Pat Wallace: | 35–16 | – | | | | | |
| Jean Balthaser (1977–1980) |||||||||
| 1977–78 | Jean Balthaser | 14–14 | — | — | EAIAW Regional (1–1) | | | |
| 1978–79 | Jean Balthaser | 12–17 | — | — | EAIAW Regional (0–1) | | | |
| 1979–80 | Jean Balthaser | 21–11 | — | — | EAIAW Regional (0–1) | | | |
| Jean Balthaser: | Jean Balthaser: | 47–42 | – | | | | | |
| Judy Saurer (Big East Conference beginning in 1982–83) (1980–1985) |||||||||
| 1980–81 | Judy Saurer | 22–7 | — | — | NWIT Fifth Place Regionals (0–1) | | | |
| 1981–82 | Judy Saurer | 14–14 | — | — | | | | |
| 1982–83 | Judy Saurer | 17–11 | 5–3 | 3rd | | | | |
| 1983–84 | Judy Saurer | 16–12 | 6–2 | T-1st | | | | |
| 1984–85 | Judy Saurer | 16–12 | 10–6 | T-4th | | | | |
| Judy Saurer: | Judy Saurer: | 85–56 | 21–11 | | | | | |
| Kirk Bruce (Big East Conference) (1985–1998) |||||||||
| 1985–86 | Kirk Bruce | 11–16 | 5–11 | 6th | | | | |
| 1986–87 | Kirk Bruce | 7–21 | 1–15 | 9th | | | | |
| 1987–88 | Kirk Bruce | 14–15 | 5–11 | 7th | | | | |
| 1988–89 | Kirk Bruce | 11–17 | 3–13 | 9th | | | | |
| 1989–90 | Kirk Bruce | 15–14 | 6–10 | 6th | | | | |
| 1990–91 | Kirk Bruce | 16–13 | 10–6 | T-3rd | | | | |
| 1991–92 | Kirk Bruce | 11–18 | 6–12 | 7th | | | | |
| 1992–93 | Kirk Bruce | 15–12 | 10–8 | T-4th | | | | |
| 1993–94 | Kirk Bruce | 21–10 | 12–6 | 3rd | NWIT Third Place | | | |
| 1994–95 | Kirk Bruce | 17–11 | 10–8 | T-4th | | | | |
| 1995–96 | Kirk Bruce | 6–24 | 3–15 | 7th (BE 7) | | | | |
| 1996–97 | Kirk Bruce | 8–22 | 3–15 | 7th (BE 7) | | | | |
| 1997–98 | Kirk Bruce | 6–21 | 3–15 | 7th (BE 7) | | | | |
| Kirk Bruce: | Kirk Bruce: | 158–214 | 77–145 | | | | | |
| Traci Waites (Big East Conference) (1998–2003) |||||||||
| 1998–99 | Traci Waites | 8–19 | 3–15 | T-12th | | | | |
| 1999–2000 | Traci Waites | 16–13 | 7–9 | T-6th | WNIT first round | | | |
| 2000–01 | Traci Waites | 9–18 | 3–13 | T-12th | | | | |
| 2001–02 | Traci Waites | 8–19 | 3–13 | 13th | | | | |
| 2002–03 | Traci Waites | 12–16 | 4–12 | T-11th | | | | |
| Traci Waites: | Traci Waites: | 53–85 | 20–62 | | | | | |
| Agnus Berenato (Big East Conference) (2003–2013) |||||||||
| 2003–04 | Agnus Berenato | 6–20 | 2–14 | 13th | | | | |
| 2004–05 | Agnus Berenato | 13–15 | 5–11 | 10th | | | | |
| 2005–06 | Agnus Berenato | 22–11 | 9–7 | T-6th | WNIT semifinals | | | |
| 2006–07 | Agnus Berenato | 24–9 | 10–6 | T-5th | NCAA round of 32 | | | |
| 2007–08 | Agnus Berenato | 24–11 | 10–6 | T-5th | NCAA Sweet Sixteen | 16 | | |
| 2008–09 | Agnus Berenato | 25–8 | 12–4 | 3rd | NCAA Sweet Sixteen | 15 | 15 | |
| 2009–10 | Agnus Berenato | 16–15 | 5–11 | T-12th | WNIT first round | | | |
| 2010–11 | Agnus Berenato | 14–17 | 5–11 | 12th | | | | |
| 2011–12 | Agnus Berenato | 8–21 | 0–16 | 16th | | | | |
| 2012–13 | Agnus Berenato | 9–21 | 0–16 | 15th | | | | |
| Agnus Berenato: | Agnus Berenato: | 161–148 | 58–102 | | | | | |
| Suzie McConnell-Serio (Atlantic Coast Conference) (2013–2018) |||||||||
| 2013–14 | Suzie McConnell-Serio | 11–20 | 3–13 | T-14th | | | | |
| 2014–15 | Suzie McConnell-Serio | 20–12 | 9–7 | 7th | NCAA second round | | | |
| 2015–16 | Suzie McConnell-Serio | 13–18 | 4–12 | T-13th | | | | |
| 2016–17 | Suzie McConnell-Serio | 13–17 | 4–12 | T-11th | | | | |
| 2017–18 | Suzie McConnell-Serio | 10–20 | 2–14 | 13th | | | | |
| Suzie McConnell-Serio: | Suzie McConnell-Serio: | 67–87 | 22–58 | | | | | |
| Lance White (Atlantic Coast Conference) (2018–2023) |||||||||
| 2018–19 | Lance White | 11–20 | 2–14 | 14th | | | | |
| 2019–20 | Lance White | 5–26 | 1–17 | 15th | | | | |
| 2020–21 | Lance White | 5–14 | 3–12 | 12th | | | | |
| 2021–22 | Lance White | 11–19 | 2–16 | T-14th | | | | |
| 2022–23 | Lance White | 10–20 | 3–15 | 15th | | | | |
| Lance White: | Lance White: | 44–99 | 11–74 | | | | | |
| Tory Verdi (Atlantic Coast Conference) (2024–present) |||||||||
| 2023–24 | Tory Verdi | 8–24 | 2–16 | T-14th | | | | |
| Tory Verdi: | Tory Verdi: | 8–24 | 2–16 | | | | | |
| Total: | Total: | 656–751 | | | | | | |
| National champion   Postseason invitational champion   Conference regular season champion   Conference regular season and conference tournament champion  Division regular season champion  Division regular season and conference tournament champion  Conference tournament champion |||||||||

## NCAA tournament results

| Year | Seed | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 2007 | #8 | First Round Second Round | #9 James Madison #1 Tennessee | W 71-61 L 68-54 |
| 2008 | #6 | First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen | #11 Wyoming 3 Baylor #2 Stanford | W 63-58 W 67-59 L 72-53 |
| 2009 | #4 | First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen | #13 Montana 12 Gonzaga #1 Oklahoma | W 64-35 W 65-60 L 70-59 |
| 2015 | #10 | First Round Second Round | #7 Chattanooga #2 Tennessee | W 51-40 L 77-67 |