WOMENS BASKETBALL: Minus Wicks, Irish try to move forward
By JOE HETTLER
Sports Editor
Another challenge presents itself for the Notre Dame womens basketball team Wednesday night, and it's not just the visiting Georgetown Hoyas.
Tonight's matchup between two Big East foes that have each lost three of their last five conference games will mark the first time the Irish play since sophomore guard Kelsey Wicks left the team. Wicks made her decision over the weekend, saying personal reasons were behind her departure.
"I think this is a situation where we have to circle the wagon," Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw said. "This is a close-knit group. They've come together well. I think if we can stay away from injuries, we can overcome [Wicks leaving]."
The Irish get their first chance of overcoming the Wicks setback against a Hoyas team that can score from inside or the perimeter.
Georgetown forward Rebekkah Brunson averages 17.7 points per game and 11.6 rebounds, which is good for sixth best in the country. Brunson also has posted 11 double-doubles this season and has a chance to grab All-America honors at seasons end.
If Notre Dame stops Brunson, the Hoyas likely will throw the ball out to guard Mary Lisicky, who has connected on 52.3 percent of her 3-point attempts this season. Lisicky also averages 13.5 points and 4.2 assists per contest.
"[Brunson] is good on the perimeter and she's really good on the block and she can drive it in between," McGraw said. "So I think she's a tough matchup for us, that's going to be real difficult to stop her."
"Lisicky is one of the best 3-point shooters in the league, so they have a great inside-outside threat. Those are their two main scorers right now, but anyone else on the team can step up for them."
The Irish will counter with three starters averaging double figures in scoring, including the team's leading scorer, Jacqueline Batteast, who averages over 15 points per game for Notre Dame.
The Irish are coming off a 69-64 home victory over West Virginia Saturday, which improved their Big East record to 4-4. Alicia Ratay and Batteast each scored 21 points in that win.
Notre Dame has owned the all-time series against Georgetown, winning all but one of the 17 meetings between the two teams. The lone win for the Hoyas came in the 1988-89 Investors Classic game with the Irish, 5,206 days ago.
All Sports Stories for Wednesday, February 5, 2003
