Unlike the GW men’s basketball team, the women’s team will not open their season with a nationally televised game. However, coach Joe McKeown’s team will begin with a big game of its own – against cross-town rival Georgetown.

The Hoyas will look to defeat the Colonials for the fourth straight year. When Georgetown squared off with GW to begin last year’s season at Smith Center, the Hoyas won 67-62.

Due to a string of injuries, GW had a tumultuous preseason. Junior Liz Dancause saw action in only one preseason game due to recurring shin problems. Sophomore Amanda LoCascio saw limited action in the first preseason game due to an ongoing shoulder injury and then missed the second game due to a death in the family. The Colonials also lost senior guard Michaela Leary when she decided to leave the team.

Freshman Lisa Steele, the Colonials’ top recruit, has yet to play due to a stress fracture in her foot.

“I definitely will not being playing in the first three games and my goal is to be practicing by Thanksgiving,” Steele said. “It’s really been frustrating to watch the games from the bench. Basketball is my outlet for stress so it’s been tough by that’s just the way it is right now.”

Sunday, the Colonials will open their home non-conference schedule when they take on East Carolina University, a team GW has not faced since the 1983 season.

The Colonials will then travel to Knoxville, Tenn., to take on the University of Tennessee on Tuesday, Nov. 23. The Colonials have never beaten coach Pat Summit’s Lady Volunteers.

“I am looking forward to it because I love to play against great competition and it will be good for us,” senior forward Anna Monta?ana said. “We will do our best, if we can beat them we will and if we can’t, we can’t.”