July 2, 2008

PITTSBURGH -

The Pitt women’s basketball team will participate in the prestigious 2008 State Farm Tip-Off Classic, announced the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Wednesday. The Panthers will meet up with 2008 Big 12 Champion Texas A&M in the four-team classic, which will be broadcast live on ESPN2.

Pitt will play the Aggies on Nov. 16 at 5 p.m. CST in Baton Rouge, La., to tip off the season. Pitt and Texas A&M will follow Notre Dame vs. LSU in the classic opener. Both games are set to be played at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on the campus of LSU.

The Panthers return three starters from a record-setting season in 2007-08, which concluded with a trip to their first-ever Sweet 16 appearance. They finished the season ranked No. 16 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll, Pitt’s first postseason ranking in school history.

The 2008 State Farm Tip-Off Classic marks the 16th year of the event, which has become synonymous with the start of the collegiate women’s basketball season. Once again, this year’s match-ups feature some of the best players, coaches and programs in the country. All four teams participating advanced to at least the Sweet 16 in last season’s NCAA Tournament.

At halftime of both games, the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2009 will be introduced to the arena and the national television audience. The 2009 Induction is the 11th annual event, with the inaugural induction taking place in conjunction with the Hall of Fame’s grand opening in 1999. When the Class of 2009 is officially inducted in Knoxville, Tenn. on June 13, the list of individuals who have been recognized as Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame inductees will increase to 109.

The remainder of the Pitt women’s basketball schedule will be released at a later date.