Women look to snap losing streak against Hoyas

Time is running out for the Pitt women’s basketball team.

With five games left in the… Time is running out for the Pitt women’s basketball team.

With five games left in the season, the Panthers (6-15 overall, 2-9 Big East) stand in 13th place in the Big East Conference. Both St. John’s and Providence are one game ahead of Pitt in the conference standings. Only the top 12 teams make the Big East Tournament in March.

Saturday, Pitt has another chance to pick up a victory at home against Georgetown. The Hoyas (10-12, 4-7), much like Rutgers, are a strong and physical team that can wear teams down. But Pitt knows that if it is to make its own conference tournament, the six-game losing streak that the team is currently on must end Saturday.

“This game Saturday is the biggest one we have left,” junior guard Amy Kunich said. “You don’t want to not get invited to your own banquet.”

Saturday will also be a homecoming for Georgetown sophomore Carmen Bruce. Bruce’s father, Kirk Bruce is the assistant athletics director for Olympic sports at Pitt. Carmen is averaging seven points and 4.4 rebounds per game for the Hoyas. Mr. Bruce, also a graduate of Pitt, will be in attendance Saturday with mixed emotions.

“[Playing in Pittsburgh] makes the trip to her game a lot easier,” Bruce said. “I hope she plays well, and let the game be a toss-up.”

During the current six-game losing streak the Panthers are on, Pitt has shot a little better than 30 percent. The Hoyas come into Saturday having held 15 of their 22 opponents to less than 40 percent shooting. The combination doesn’t bode well for the Panthers, who will have to find opportunities to make easy baskets.

A solution to this problem might be the emergence of center Allisha Morris. Wednesday night against Rutgers, Morris made her first start since Dec. 3 against Duquesne. She played 21 solid minutes against the Scarlet Knights and scored eight points. Berenato expects her to start again Saturday.

“I would think there is no reason Allisha [Morris] wouldn’t start Saturday,” Berenato said. “But starters are determined in practice. [Tuesday] I didn’t like Jennifer Brown’s attitude in practice, and that’s why Allisha started.”

Kunich liked what she saw from Morris Wednesday night and stressed the need to shoot better and score more points.

“Allisha [Morris] looked to score, not just shoot,” Kunich said. “You have to score to win, and we haven’t been scoring much lately.”

The Hoyas bring plenty of scoring into Saturday’s contest. Georgetown senior forward Rebekkah Brunson is averaging 18.5 points and 11.4 rebounds per game. Against No. 25 Boston College, Brunson recorded her 13th double-double of the season, including a 30-point effort in the Hoyas loss. Brunson is the catalyst of the Georgetown team.

“Brunson is dominant in the paint,” Berenato said. “Georgetown plays more physical then Rutgers, plus their guards are athletic.”

While Pitt is currently on its six-game losing streak, the Hoyas are slipping as well. Georgetown has lost three straight games and is 0-5 on the road in conference play.

Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Petersen Events Center, someone’s losing streak has to come to an end.