Pitt women’s basketball looks to rebound from a three-game losing streak against the unranked… Pitt women’s basketball looks to rebound from a three-game losing streak against the unranked Marquette Golden Eagles at 8 p.m. Saturday night.

The No. 18 Panthers (18-7, 8-4 Big East) have lost four of their past five games – all to ranked teams – after gaining their program-best No. 14 ranking by winning 11 games in a row.

“We knew what was going to happen from the minute we got the schedule,” Pitt coach Agnus Berenato said. “We knew it was going to be a really, really tough schedule, but we weathered the storm, and now we have to get back to playing Pitt basketball.”

Rutgers, Notre Dame, West Virginia and most recently Connecticut reminded the Panthers that they are not an elite Big East team yet, said Berenato after Pitt’s 90-64 loss to Connecticut on Sunday.

“We’re trying to get there, but three or four years ago, we didn’t have a winning season,” said Berenato. “I don’t think you get to the elite level overnight. Connecticut’s program was exactly the same, and it took them 10 years to get to the Final Four.”

Mallorie Winn paced the Panthers Sunday with 16 points and five assists. Pitt’s leading scorer, Shavonte Zellous, was held to just nine points on 2-of-10 shooting, while Marcedes Walker finished with five points off five foul shots.

After shooting a season-low 20.3 percent in a loss to West Virginia on Feb. 13, the Panthers shot 31.7 percent against Connecticut, the No. 1-ranked Big East scoring defense.

But early foul trouble and the depth of the Huskies’ bench caught up to the Panthers.

“They have player after player after player,” said Berenato Sunday. “They’re so strong. They can throw person after person after person at you.” Five Connecticut players scored in double figures, including two from its bench. Renee Montgomery led all scorers with 17 points, and the Huskies used an 18-2 run going into halftime to put the Panthers away.

A win against Marquette in a hostile environment would provide a much needed boost the Panthers need.

“It’s a huge game for us. We’ve never won at Marquette,” said Berenato.

The Golden Eagles (14-12, 6-7) are coming off an 88-71 home win over Seton Hall last Friday, their highest scoring output all season. Junior Krystal Ellis scored a game-high 22 points.

But Marquette made the fatal trek to Hartford, Conn., Wednesday, and suffered through a 95-63 blowout.

Ellis, Marquette’s leading scorer, missed her first five shots and was 4 for 14 from the floor. She finished with 11 points for the game. Ellis is on the Naismith Trophy watch list, given to the top player in the nation, along with Zellous and Walker. She also ranks second in the Big East in scoring, just ahead of Zellous, averaging 19 points per game.

“[Ellis] does everything. She’s smart. She’s a leader, and she rebounds well,” said Berenato.

On Sunday, Walker had the same troubles as Ellis against Connecticut. Walker scored 18 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in the loss to Notre Dame but scored two points in the loss to West Virginia and went 0 for 5 from the field against Connecticut.

Walker’s ankle injury suffered two weeks ago in a loss to Rutgers seems to have hampered the 6-foot-3-inch center. After beating Pitt last Wednesday, West Virginia coach Mike Carey admitted that he has seen Walker move better.

Zellous has also struggled to score and has not put up double-digit points since scoring 16 points against Notre Dame. One reason could be West Virginia and Connecticut being ranked Nos. 3 and 1, respectively, in the Big East in scoring defense.

The Panthers now enter the home stretch of their schedule before the Big East tournament in Hartford. Now would be the ideal time for the Panthers to be playing their best basketball.