This Week In Pitt Panthers Athletics
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - The Pitt Panthers men's basketball team will continue Big East play this week when they host South Florida on Wednesday. They will also travel to New York City to face St. John's on Saturday.
The women's basketball team will face their backyard rival, West Virginia on Saturday at the Petersen Events Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Although Pittsburgh is experiencing freezing temperatures, the Panthers baseball team will open their season in Clearwater, Fla. at the Big East vs. Big Ten Challenge on Friday.
For more information go to www.pittsburghpanthers.com
Read the full press release below.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
No. 4 ranked Pitt hosts South Florida on Wednesday, Feb. 16 before traveling to New York City's Madison Square Garden to play St. John's on Saturday, Feb. 19. The USF game is scheduled for 7 p.m. on ESPN3.com, while the St. John's game is at noon and will be televised nationally on ESPN. At 23-2 overall and 11-1 in the Big East, Pitt has a 1.5 game lead over Notre Dame (10-3) for first place in the conference. This is the first time Pitt has ever began a Big East regular season with an 11-1 overall record. The team is also a perfect 6-0 in road games on the year.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Pitt's women's basketball team hosts a pair of Big East opponents this week. The Panthers face Providence at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 15 at the Petersen Events Center. That contest will also be televised on CBS-College Sports. Next, the squad plays West Virginia at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 19. The game will be aired on Pitt Panthers Television on The Comcast Network and is featured as the Panther's Pink the Petersen contest. All fans are encouraged to wear pink and one dollar of each ticket sold will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Pitt is coming off a 70-66 thrilling victory over USF at the Petersen Events Center. Taneisha Harrison led four players in double figures, posting 27 points and five assists in the game. Chelsea Cole, who grabbed her 13th double-double, was named to the Big East honor roll.
BASEBALL
Pitt's baseball team opens its season in the Big East/Big Ten Challenge in Clearwater, Fla. this week. The Panthers begin with a 4 p.m. contest against Illinois on Friday, Feb. 18. Next, Pitt meets Iowa at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 19, prior to a game against Purdue on Sunday, Feb. 20 at 1 p.m. Earlier this month, catcher Kevan Smith was named to CollegeBaseball360's 2011 Catchers to Watch list.
GYMNASTICS
Pitt travels south for another road meet this week, as it faces EAGL foe North Carolina on Sunday, Feb. 20 in Chapel Hill. The contest will begin at 2 p.m. The Panthers are coming off a season-high 193.600 team score and 48.625 on balance beam, despite a loss to conference opponent Maryland (194.225-193.600). Additionally, for the second time this season, nine Pitt gymnasts set or broke personal records in the same meet.
SOFTBALL
Pitt's softball team opens its 2011 season in Miami, Fla. this week. The Panthers will play five games in the Blue and Gold Felsberg Memorial Tournament hosted by Florida International. Action begins on Friday, Feb. 18 with a 3 p.m. contest against Providence. Pitt plays again at 7 p.m. against the host Golden Panthers on Friday. On Saturday, Feb. 19, Pitt faces Georgia Tech (noon) and Illinois (2 p.m.). Action concludes on Sunday, Feb. 20 with an 11 a.m. contest against FIU. Pitt returns eight starters from last season, including senior captains Cory Berliner, Alyssa O'Connell and Reba Tutt.
SWIMMING AND DIVING
With the diving events complete, Pitt's swimmers are on deck as the Big East Championships continue in Louisville, Ky. this week. Events begin Wednesday, Feb. 16 and last through Saturday, Feb. 19 at the University of Louisville. Senior Collin Forner led the divers with All-Big East honors in the 1M and 3M diving events.
WOMEN'S TENNIS
The women's tennis team resumes action with two matches this week. First, the Panthers travel to Morgantown, W.Va. for a contest against Big East rival West Virginia at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 16. The squad will then host St. Bonaventure on Sunday, Feb. 20 at 11 a.m. Pitt earned a 6-1 victory over Bucknell in its home opener on Feb. 4. During that match, all three of Pitt's freshmen picked up a singles and doubles victory.
TRACK AND FIELD
Pitt's track and field team travels to Akron, Ohio on Friday, Feb. 18 for the Big East Indoor Championships. The two-day event concludes on Saturday, Feb. 20. The Panthers are led by seniors Brianna Broyles (hurdles) and Da'Lynn Mills (sprints) on the women's side, while junior Jermaine Lowery (hurdles) and sophomore TaShaun Hill (hurdles) look to pace the men's squad.
WRESTLING
The No. 22 Pitt wrestling team closes its dual-match season with its EWL finale at Edinboro on Saturday, Feb. 19. Match time is slated for 7 p.m. Last season, the Panthers defeated the Fighting Scots in their conference finale en route to claiming its first-ever EWL Dual Championship.
PANTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY
Pitt's track and field team will host Panther PAWS at Trees Hall on Saturday, Feb. 19. The two-hour program begins at 10 a.m. This week, the Panthers will also have three children's hospital honorary captains with the women's basketball team hosting on Tuesday and Saturday, and the men's team home on Wednesday evening. During the men's game on Wednesday, Pitt will also have its Scholar-Athlete halftime recognition ceremony for all student-athletes that earned 3.0 or higher GPA.
