HARTFORD, Conn. -- The Big East announced its all-conference women's basketball teams Friday night, and it didn't go unnoticed by more than a few people around the Pitt program that Panthers senior Marcedes Walker was a second-team selection as opposed to being a first-teamer.

This despite the fact that Walker had been a three-time all-conference selection, led the conference in offensive rebounding and is one of only three players in the conference to average at least 13 points and nine rebounds per game.

It was the kind of snub that usually provides a player with motivation, and that was bad news for Villanova yesterday. Walker scored 20 points and grabbed seven rebounds and led the Panthers to a 69-63 win against the Wildcats in a first-round Big East tournament game at the Hartford Civic Center. The fifth-seeded Panthers (21-9) will play No. 4 seed Notre Dame (23-7) in the quarterfinals at noon today.

The Irish, who beat the Panthers, 81-66, in February, have won 17 of 18 games in the all-time series between the two teams.

From the outset Walker, Pitt's first four-time all-conference selection, was on a mission.

"I was worried about how Marcedes was going to react to the news, but she said she was fine with it, which says a lot about her," coach Agnus Berenato said.

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Today

• Game: Pitt (21-9) vs. Notre Dame (23-7) in a Big East quarterfinal game.
• When: Noon.
• TV: ESPNU.
• Also: West Virginia vs. Syracuse-South Florida winner at 8 p.m., ESPNU.

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"Then today, I thought she was awesome, and we were able to ride her. She played like a big-time center and left it all on the court."

Villanova (15-15) runs a methodical, unconventional offense, predicated on patience and finding the open shooter. The Wildcats also rely heavily on the 3-point shot.

The Panthers shut down the 3-point shooters -- the Wildcats average 10 3-pointers made per game but made only 2 of 11 yesterday -- but Villanova coach Harry Perretta said they usually counter with layups.

He said the key was his team's inability to stop Walker.

"There are just some times in games when your opponent is superior to you, athletically or in strength and size and you just can't match up with them," Perretta said of Walker.

"We just don't have anyone who can match up against her strength."

The Panthers jumped to an early lead and built a 37-22 margin by halftime without making a turnover. They finished with a season-low five turnovers and shot 47.5 percent from the floor.

It appeared as if the Panthers would cruise in the second half as they quickly pushed their lead to 19 points at 41-22.

They maintained a solid cushion of 14 points or more for the first seven minutes of the second half. But the Wildcats mounted a 27-13 run to get to within five points with six minutes to play.

But every time the Wildcats seemed poised to seize control, either Walker, or Xenia Stewart, who finished with a season-high 18 points and four assists, would make a basket.

Walker, slowed recently by an ankle injury, said the key to her performance was that she was able to rest her ankle this week.

"I have been struggling with my ankle injury, but I can't allow that to set me back," Walker said.

"This week, coach gave us some days off for rest, and that really helped me. I'm going to rest it now and prepare for Notre Dame.

"They are a very good team, and we are going to have a lot of emotion so I want to be ready to play. I thank coach for giving me that rest so I could play today."