Feb. 24, 2008

PITTSBURGH - Pitt women's basketball head coach Agnus Berenato has been named the 2007 Dapper Dan Sportswoman of the Year for the second time in three years, announced the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Sunday.

Berenato joins Swin Cash as a two-time award winner of the prestigious award. She was awarded the honor after leading the Pitt women's team to a school-best 24-9 record in 2006-07 and gave the Panthers their first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament. Pitt went on to win its first-round game over James Madison and set numerous firsts for the program along the way.

Awarded alongside Berenato will be Penguins star Sidney Crosby, who was named the Sportsman of the Year, who has also won the award twice. He was named the Dapper Dan Sportsman of the Year last year as well.

Berenato has raised the level of the Pitt program substantially since her arrival in 2003. The team has gone from a 6-20 season her first year, to a program that is consistently in the top 25 and is expected to make the NCAA Tournament.

The Dapper Dan Dinner and Sports Auction will be held on April 1 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. The event will celebrate the city's 250th anniversary.