Agnus
Berenato
Speaking at Seton Hill’s 2009 Commencement
In just six seasons, Agnus Berenato has not only changed the face of the program here at Pitt, but has done so in dramatic fashion. After a second straight trip to the Sweet 16 in 2008-09, the Panther women’s basketball team has grown into a nationally ranked and recognized team, following suit with the strong Pittsburgh tradition of sports teams. For the amazing transformation Berenato has accomplished with the Pitt program, she was awarded a contract extension through the 201516 season. Berenato and the Panthers went on to a fourth-straight record setting season, starting with its first-ever invite to the State Farm Tip Off Classic against Texas A&M. Pitt set a school record for wins in a season with 25 as well as winning percentage (.758) following a 25-8 final mark. Among those 25 wins, Pitt defeated then No. 8 Maryland by 29 points for the biggest win over the highest ranked team in school history. Their 22-win regular season tied the 2006-07 squad for the most in school history. They also tallied the best Big East finish at 12-4 and entered their Big East Tournament as the No. 3 seed, the best since the 1993-94 season. In postseason play, the Panthers earned the highest seed in school history entering the NCAA Tournament as they were awarded a No. 4 spot in the Oklahoma City Regional. Upon reaching the 20-win mark for the fourth consecutive season, the Panthers’ success was awarded with several national rankings. Pitt finished the season with a No. 15 ranking in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll, tying the highestever ranking in the coaches poll. In the Associated Press poll during the year, the Panthers held the No. 14 ranking, tying the best ever in the AP poll.
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2009 -10 Pitt Women’s Basketball
Head Coach ■ Seventh Season at Pittsburgh 26th season overall ■ 397-338 overall record Alma Mater: Mount St. Mary’s, 1980 ■ Hometown: Gloucester City, N.J. Three Panthers earned All-Big East honors following the season highlighted by Pitt’s first three-time All-Big East First Team selection in Shavonte Zellous. Zellous was also named to the Big East All-Tournament team. Xenia Stewart was named to the second team while freshman Shawnice “Pepper” Wilson garnered All-Big East Freshmen honors. Another first for Pitt was the All-America honor received by Zellous. Pitt’s first All-American was awarded Associated Press Third Team All-America accolades and also marked the Panthers’ first WNBA draft pick when she was taken 11th overall in the first round by the defending champion Detroit Shock. Zellous was also a Region I State Farm Coaches All-American, marking two straight years that a Pitt player as achieved that honor.
Following the season, freshman Shawnice Wilson became the first Panther to compete for a spot on the USA Basketball U19 team. Wilson was a finalist before having to withdraw due to injury. Berenato’s impact on the program has reached far beyond the court and the win/loss column, however, as she has put Pitt women’s basketball on the map. Over the past two seasons, Pitt was on national, regional or local television 31 times and received unprecedented coverage on the national scene. In 2007-08, Pitt became just the 10th school in the last 20 years to advance to the Sweet 16 in just its second ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The Panthers also became the first since 2000 when they upset No. 3-seed and 12th-ranked Baylor in the second round, 67-59.