Women's basketball opens conference play against ESU

Slippery Rock University Women's basketball will open up home Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference play this weekend with a pair of games against East Stroudsburg University (11-3), and Kutztown University (11-4).

East Stroudsburg (2-2, 0-2), enters Saturdays game on a two game winning streak.

Cyara Woodridge for ESU, who has scored 60 total points on the year and, average's 15 points per game.

The Rock women (1-3, 0-2) will also have to contend with Andrea Veras, 49 points per game, and Jessica Martin who is averaging 40 points per game.

Head coach Tanya Longo said that the team has to focus on what they can do

"East Stroudsburg has very talented young ladies who have had success putting up points early in the season," Longo said. "However, our focus is on our team and making defensive improvements within our defense, not on stopping specific players."

 Martin leads the way on defense for the Warriors as she has 10 blocks on the year and, seven steals.

Longo reiterated that the team doesn't plan for specific players but did make a point to note the shot blocking ability that Martin has.

"Martin is certainly a talented young lady with proven shot blocking abilities," Longo said. "We face shot blockers on a regular basis and our preparation in not about making adjustments for particular players."

Along with being offensive weapons, Veras and Woodridge are a combined 18-for-23 from the free throw line.

Sunday's game against Kutztown University (2-5, 1-1), will cap off the Rock women's weekend home stand of PSAC crossover matches.

The Golden Bears are led offensively by Ashley Wood. Wood has scored 111 total points on the year, 18.5 points per game. Along with being the top threat offensively, Wood is 28-30 from the free throw line.

Defensively for the Golden Bears, Avery Hodgson has 76 total points on the year so far but, leads the team defensively with seven blocks and, five steals.

Danielle Smith leads the Rock women offensively with 58 total points on the year, averaging 14.5 points per game. She will need to play a big role if the Rock hopes to win this weekend's games.

"I expect the same thing from Danielle Smith every game," Longo said.  "I expect her to play as hard as she can and to execute our game plan with as much precision as possible. We don't focus on getting a certain number of points each game for her."

Jasmine Cooper has come on strong since the start of the year as she has 57 total points, 14.5 averaged per game. Cooper will look to take some pressure off of Smith as they enter this weekend's games.

"She plays hard and is extremely coachable," Longo said. "When you combine that together, you're going to have success on the court.  We work to get all of our scorers' touches in the game. Jasmine is one of those players who will have opportunities to put the ball in the basket in every game."

The Rock women have started out the year 1-3, 0-2 in conference play. Both conference losses have come against undefeated teams in West Chester University and Millersville University.