The women's basketball team will look to put an end to their season high six game losing streak this Saturday at 2 p.m. when they return home to take on No. 19 Georgetown.
The Pirates, who were beaten 68-64 by the University of South Florida on Tuesday night, have dropped their previous six games by an average of 14 points.
The team also remains winless in the Big East at 0-7, with a record of 7-13 overall.
"We can only control things that we can control," head coach Anne Donovan said. "That's how hard we work at it, do we work every day in practice, are we getting better in games, are we keeping a competitive mindset."
Amidst the losing streak, junior Kandice Green has been a bright for the team. Over the last four games, Green has averaged 16.3 points and 7.7 rebounds per game.
"She was a tease in the early going because she has so much talent," Donovan said. "What Kandice Green is doing differently is she's practicing hard every day for the last two or three weeks, and practicing and playing at the same intensity level, so it's her work."
On Tuesday night, Green received help carrying the scoring load from fellow junior Jasmine Crew, who scored 20 points.
"We need the combination of Crew on the perimeter and Kandice inside," Donovan said.
Against USF Green and Crew shot a combined 50 percent from the field while the rest of the team shot 23 percent.
Georgetown's record stands at 16-5 and 4-3 in the Big East. They will be coming into Walsh Gymnasium after beating No. 8 West Virginia at home Tuesday night.
Sophomore guard Sugar Rodgers leads the Hoyas in scoring at 18.0 points per game, and also averages 5.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists. Senior guard Monica McNutt is second on the team in scoring at 11.2 points per game.
The Hoyas also have a considerable amount of depth. Eight players average over 10 minutes per game for head coach Terri Williams-Flournoy.
"Another ranked team with tremendous guard play," Donovan said. "They have a super athletic, quick and very guard heavy team that will pose a problem for us. But we are looking forward to the challenge."
Georgetown has a number of players who can drive and get to the basket. Donovan thinks that the biggest key to the game will be limiting the Hoyas penetration.
When the Hoyas aren't driving to the basket, they are also a very effective team from long range. Rodgers and McNutt combine for an average of 4.4 three pointers per game, while Rubylee Wright averages 1.2 per game.
At times Georgetown has been susceptible to turning the ball over. The Pirates will have to focus on pressuring the ball in order for them to snap their losing streak.
Last season, the Pirates lost to the No. 12 Hoyas 71-49 in Georgetown in the regular season finale for both teams.
John Provenzano can be reached at john.provenzano@student.shu.edu
