Villanova University

Jan. 5, 1998

Villanova vs. Seton Hall Women's Basketball Game Notes

Head Coach Harry Perretta
The Wildcats are led by the Dean of Big East head coaches Harry Perretta who is in his 20th year at Villanova. Perretta's 355 wins ranks him 49th on the winningest active collegiate coaches list. For just Division I coaches, he ranks 33rd.

In his career at Villanova, Perretta has led the Wildcats to three NCAA Tournament appearances, two Big East Tournament Championships and eight Philadelphia Big 5 titles. In 1981-82, Perretta guided the Wildcats to the AIAW Final Four.

Seton Hall Report
The Pirates enter today's game with a 2-8 overall record and a 0-2 Big East conference mark. In conference action, Seton Hall has lost at home to both St. John's (65-56) and Miami (70-66).

The Pirates are led by junior center Danielle Golay who is averaging a team-leading 16.2 ppg and 7.5 rpg. From the field, Golay is 70-for-132 (53%). Also scoring in double figures for the Pirates, are senior guard Sandy Mitchell, who is scoring 11.4, ppg and sophomore forward Sarah Fisher, who is averaging 10.3 ppg. As a team, Seton Hall is scoring 63.3 ppg, while they are giving up 73.1 ppg.

Pirate Head Coach Phyllis Mangina
Seton Hall is led by 13th year head coach Phyllis Mangina. During her tenure in South Orange, NJ, Mangina has tallied a 191-165 mark. During the 1994-95 and 1993-94 seasons, Mangina guided the Pirates to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, advancing to the second round both years.

Mangina is a four-time New Jersey Coach of the Year and a two-time MWBA Coach of the Year. As a player, she was a standout guard at Seton Hall where she led the Pirates to a 93-28 record during her playing career.

Last Time Out
Seton Hall -- On Saturday, Jan. 3, the Pirates lost at home to Miami by a score of 70-66. After falling behind, 39-28 at halftime, Seton Hall made a second half comeback where they outscored the Hurricanes, 38-31. However, the comeback came up short, as Miami was able to hold on for the win.

Villanova - On Saturday, Jan. 3, Villanova earned a home win with a 50-49 victory over Boston College. With the scored tied at 47-47 with 1:17 remaining, senior guard Jenny Higgins buried a three-point field goal to give the Wildcats a 50-47 lead. After Allison Booth's lay-up cut the lead to 50-49 with 17.5 seconds remaining, the Wildcats missed two straight front ends of one-and-ones. Following the second miss, which came at the 12 second mark, Boston College raced down the floor where they missed two shots as time expired.

In the victory, Villanova was led by Higgins who had a game-high 21 points, including a five-for-10 effort from three-point range. Other strong performances for the Wildcats were turned in by senior Jenn Beisel, who had 10 points and six rebounds, junior Shanette Lee, who tallied nine assists and just one turnover, and freshman Mimi Riley who grabbed a career-high six rebounds. Leading the way for Boston College was Allison Booth who had a double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds.

A Look Back
Last year, Villanova and Seton Hall met just once with the Pirates claiming a convincing 72-50 win at Walsh Gymnasium. Seton Hall controlled the game from the start, as they raced to a 35-21 lead at intermission. Seton Hall center Dana Wynne was sensational, as she scored 32 points and grabbed 20 rebounds. Wynne, who was the only Pirate to score in double figures, was nine-for-11 from the field and 14-of-19 from the foul line.

The only Wildcat to reach double figures was Shanette Lee who 11 points on four-for-six shooting. The Pirates dominated the glass as they out-rebounded Villanova by a 47-25 margin.

Playing Smart
Junior point guard Shanette Lee has played exceptionally well in Villanova's last three games against Southwest Texas State, Georgetown and Boston College. In those three contests, Lee has registered 25 assists and just three turnovers (SW Texas -- 8 assists, 0 turnovers, Georgetown -- 8 assists, 2 turnovers, Boston College -- 9 assists, 1 turnover). For those three games, Lee has an assist to turnover ratio of 8.3:1. For the season, her ratio is 2.5:1. Starting all 12 games as the point, Lee is averaging 5.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg (second on team), 6.6 apg (leads team) and 1.0 spg).

In A Zone
Senior Jenny Higgins has been sensational from three-point range this year. Entering the Seton Hall game, Higgins is 42-for-79 (53.2%) from three-point range. Her overall shotting percentage is 50.9 percent (55-for-108). Her three-point numbers currently rank her first in the Big East and second in the nation.

Earlier this season versus Pennsylvania, she connected on a school-record setting nine three-point field goals in a school-record 18 attempts. For the season, she is averaging 3.5 three-pointers a game and she has had at least three triples in nine games and has recorded four or more three-point field goals on six occasions. She is currently second on the team in scoring with a 13.0 ppg average.

Triple J'S
Villanova is led in scoring by the Triple J's, Jenn Beisel, Jenny Higgins and Jenea Skeeters. Beisel leads the way with a 13.4 ppg average, followed by Higgins who is scoring 13.0 ppg and Skeeters who is averaging 10.2 ppg. Beisel also leads the team in shooting percentage (48.2%). Another J, Jenn Sliwa, is fourth on the team in scoring (8.9 ppg) and leads the team in steals with 27.

Breakout Season
Senior forward Jenn Beisel is having an outstanding senior season thus far in 1997-98. The Philadelphia, Pa. native is currently leading the team in both scoring (13.4 ppg) and rebounding (5.3 rpg) and is second in steals (23 total) and third in assists (21).

Besides being one of Villanova's top offensive threats, Beisel is also Villanova's best defensive player. Her defensive ability allows her to guard a player on the perimeter, as well as defend an opponent in the low post despite being only 5-9. Due to her outstanding defensive ability, Beisel is usually assigned to guard the opponents best player. Last year as a junior, Beisel averaged 10.1 ppg which ranked her third on the team. Also, last season, she finished second on the team in steals (59) and assists (74).

Training Room Report
Junior center Priscilla Rosenthal will be sidelined for the remainder of the year due to a knee injury. Rosenthal suffered the injury during practice on Dec. 4. Prior to the injury, Rosenthal had played in four games where she grabbed five rebounds. Rosenthal is Villanova's tallest player at 6-4.

Playing "D"
In most Villanova wins, the Wildcat defense is what is responsible for the win. After 12 games, Villanova is giving up just 56.8 ppg and they are holding opponents to just 41.3 percent shooting from the field. From three-point range, Wildcat opponents have made just 31-of-103 for a 30.1 percent success rate. In all eight victories this year, Villanova has held its opponent under 60 points.

The Magic 60
Defense has always been a trademark of Harry Perretta coached teams. In Villanova's 14 victories last season, the Wildcats held 12 opponents under 60 points, in addition to holding one opponent right at 60. Of the 12 opponents held under 60, six scored 50 or less.

Villanova finished 1996-97 with an 11-0 mark when holding opponents under 60 points. The number 60 is also important to the Villanova offense, as the 'Cats were 10-3 last year when scoring 60 or more points. So far this year, Villanova is 8-0 when holding the opposition under 60 points and they are 0-3 when giving up 60 or more points. Offensively, the Wildcats are 6-1 when recording 60 or more points.

Land Down Under
Australia has become a recruiting hot spot for head coach Harry Perretta. Last season, Megan Stewart became the first foreign student-athlete to ever play for Perretta and the Wildcats. Stewart hails form Maroochydore, QLD, Australia.

This year, freshman Rebecca Stephens, who is a native of Brisbane, QLD, Australia joined the Wildcats giving Perretta an Australian duo. Stewart is averaging 11.8 minutes per game, while Stephens is averaging 9.6minutes per contest. In the scoring column, Stewart is averaging 3.1 ppg, while Stephens is averaging 2.0 ppg.

Strong Contributor
Freshman Mimi Riley has been an important reserve in head coach Harry Perretta's rotation this year. Entering the Seton Hall game, Riley is averaging 14.8 minutes a game and has tallied 25 assists, which is second on the team. In addition, she has recorded 10 steals on the year.

While she is averaging only 1.8 ppg and 1.2 rpg, Perretta has so much confidence in Riley that he is playing her at three positions, including both guard spots and the small forward slot. In her last outing versus Boston College, Riley played 17 minutes, where she tallied two points, a career-best six rebounds, two assists and one block shot.

New Faces
There are five new members of the Villanova women's basketball team. True freshman on this year's squad include Stephanie Baker (Wilmington, Del./ St. Mark's H.S.) Mimi Riley (Bala Cynwyd, Pa./Archbishop Carroll H.S.), Therese Pennefather (Manassas, Va./ Seton H.S.), and Rebecca Stephens (Brisbane, QLD, Australia).

The other new member of the team is sophomore Brandi Barnes who transferred to the Main Line from the University of Maryland. Barnes will sit out the 1997-98 season and have three years of eligibility remaining beginning in 1998-99. Baker and Pennefather are expected to join sophomore point guard Lauren Pellicane as a redshirt this season.

Villanova By The Numbers
Overall Record:             8-4
Record at Home:             3-1
Record on the Road:         2-3 
Record at Neutral Sites:    3-0
Big East Record:            2-2
At Home in Big East:        1-1  
On the road in Big East:    1-1
Big 5 Record:               3-1
Record in night games:      4-3
Record in day games:        4-1
When leading at halftime:   5-0
When trailing at halftime:  2-4
When tied at halftime:      1-0
When holding opponents under 50 points:     3-0
When holding opponents under 60 points:     8-0
When holding opponents under 70 points:     8-3
When scoring 60 or more points:             6-1 
When scoring 70 or more points:             1-0
When holding opponents under 40% shooting:  4-0
When shooting 50% or better:                3-0
In overtime games:                          0-0

All In The Family
Villanova starting forward Jenn Beisel is the second member of her family to play for Coach Harry Perretta. Beisel's older sister, Kathie, played for Villanova from 1979-83 and ended her Wildcat career as the school's all-time assist leader (507), fourth all-time leading rebounder (729) and fifth all-time leading scorer (1,328).

Beisel, one of Villanova's best defenders, has scored 772 career points and grabbed 373 career rebounds. Beisel is not the only Wildcat whose sister played for Perretta. Freshman Mary Beth Snell had an older sister, Jen, who played at Villanova from 1991-96. During her career, Jen Snell scored 776 points and pulled down 422 rebounds.

Mary Beth Snell scored a career-best 11 points on Saturday, Dec. 20 against Pennsylvania. In addition, freshman Therese Pennefather who is redshirting this season, is the younger sister of former Wildcat great Shelly Pennefather. Shelly won the 1987 Wade Trophy as the nation's top women's collegiate basketball player.

Fax-On-Demand Services
Once again this season, the Big East Conference is utilizing the FaxBack automated Fax-on-Demand-System. With this system, you can receive the latest notes, stats or box score from any of the Big East schools, or from the conference 24 hours a day. To receive this information, dial fro the handset of your fax machine 201-947-3918 and then follow the prompts until it asks for the documents (listed below) you would like to order.

                        BIG EAST      VILLANOVA
Breaking News               1030          2230
Short Notes                 1031          2231
Full Notes                  1032          2232
Stats only                  1033          2233
Box Scores                  1034          2234        

Villanova, Season-High Superlatives 
Points:                 27      Jenny Higgins vs. Penn (12/20/97)
Rebounds:                9      Jenn Beisel vs. SW Texas  (12/29/97)
Assists:                 9      Shanette Lee vs. UAB (11/28/97)    
                                Jenn Beisel vs. St. Joe's (12/10/97)
                                Shanette Lee vs. Temple (12/13/97)
                                Shanette Lee vs. BC (01/03/98)      
Field Goals Made:       10      Jenn Beisel vs. St. Joe's (12/10/97)              
Three-Pointers:          9      Jenny Higgins vs. Penn (12/20/97)                  
Free Throws Made:        8      Jenn Beisel vs. Pittsburgh (12/7/97)   
Steals:                  6      Jenn Beisel vs. Va. Tech (11/29/97)
Minutes Played:         38      Jenn Beisel vs. St. Joe's (12/10/97)                
Team Season Highs
Points scored            99      vs. Penn
First half points        43      vs. Penn 
Second half points       56      vs. Penn
Margin of victory:       44      vs. Penn
Margin of loss           40      vs. Connecticut
FG Pct                54.9%      vs. St. Joseph's
Field Goals made         35      vs. Penn
Field Goals attempted    69      vs. Penn 
Free Throws made         16      vs. Two teams               
Free Throws attempted    21      vs. SW Texas
Three-Pointers made      18      vs. Penn            
Three-Pointers attempted 37      vs. Penn
Most rebounds            37      vs. SW Texas    
Offensive Rebounds       11      vs. Five Teams
Most turnovers           28      vs. Connecticut
Most assists             28      vs. Penn
Most steals              14      vs. LaSalle
Most Blocked Shots        3      vs. Four Teams

Team Season Lows
Points scored:             27      vs. Connecticut
First Half points          16      vs. Vanderbilt
Second Half points          8      vs. Connecticut
Margin of victory           1      vs. Boston College 
Margin of loss:             5      vs. LaSalle
FG Pct.                 21.5%      vs. Vanderbilt
Field Goals made:          11      vs. Connecticut 
Field Goals attempted:     48      vs. Twice last vs. Connecticut
Free Throws made:           1      vs. LaSalle
Free Throws attempted:      6      vs. Temple
Three-Pointers Made:        0      vs. Connecticut
Three-Pointers attempted:   5      vs. Temple          
Rebounds:                  22      vs. LaSalle
Offensive Rebounds:         4      vs. Georgetown
Turnovers:                  7      vs. Two Teams
Assists:                    4      vs. Connecticut
Steals:                     4      vs. Pittsburgh
Blocked shots:              0      vs. Three Teams

Jenn Beisel
1997-98: Co-Captain...Extremely hard worker...Has started every game at forward...Averaging a team-leading 13.4 ppg and 5.3 rpg in 29.6 mpg...Recorded double figures in points in nine of Villanova's 12 games...Currently second on the team in steals with 23...Had a team-high 17 points on eight-for-16 shooting in season opener at LaSalle...Named MVP of the St. Mary's Tournament as she shot 13-or-27 from the field en route to 32 tournament points...Tallied six steals versus Va. Tech...Recorded a career-high 22 points on seven-for-11 shooting versus Pittsburgh...Scored 22 points for second-straight game versus St. Joseph's; Also added a career-high nine assists and six rebounds versus St. Joseph's...Had 16 points (eight-for-14 shooting), six rebounds and three steals versus Temple...Named Philadelphia Big 5 Player of the Week on Dec. 16 for her play against St. Joseph's and Temple...Only player to score in double figures against Vanderbilt with 14 points...Grabbed a game-high nine rebounds versus Southwest texas State...Netted a team-high 14 points versus Georgetown. ..Tallied 10 points, six rebounds and two steals despite playing with a thigh injury against Boston College.

Jenny Higgins
1997-98:Co-Captain...Team'sbest three-point shooter...Started every game at two-guard...Second on the team in scoring with a 13.0 ppg average...Averaging 28.7 mpg...Leads Big East and is second in the NCAA in three-point shooting with 42 field goals from behind the arc...Averaing 3.5 three-pointers a game...Has had six games with four or more three-point field goals...Nailed four three-pointers versus LaSalle en route to scoring 14 points...Went four-for-six from three point land versus UAB...Was a perfect three-for-three from behind the arc in the Va. Tech game...Named to the All-Tournament Team at St. Mary's Tournament...Went five-for-10 from the field versus Pitt including three treys en route to a 13 point performance...Went five-for-eight from the field including two three-pointers en route to 12 points versus St. Joseph's...Was a perfect five-for-five from the field including a four-for-four effort from behind the arc...Set school records for three-point field goals in a game with nine and three-point field goals attempted in a game with 18 against Penn...Tallied a career-high 27 points in win over Penn...Awarded Philadelphia Big 5 Player of the Week distinction on Dec. 20 for her play versus Penn...Scored 18 points, including a four-for-eight effort from three-point range in win over Southwest Texas State...One of three players to score in double figures versus Georgetown with 11 points on four-of-six shooting (three-of-four from three-point range)...Scored a game-high 21 points (eight-for-14 shooting), including a five-for-10 effort from three-point range in 50-49 win over Boston College...With scored tied at 47-47 with 1:17 left in the BC game, she hit a three-point field goal to give Villanova the win.

Mimi Riley
1997-98: Fundamentally sound player...Sees time at both guards as well as the small forward...Averaging 1.8 ppg and 1.2 rpg in 14.8 mpg...Second on team in assists with 25 (2.1 apg)...Was one-for-one from the field and had four assists in first collegiate game against LaSalle... Played 13 total minutes in two games in St. Mary's Tournament...Went one-for-one from three-point range at Pittsburgh...Played 20 minutes against St. Joseph's, recording three assists, two steals and one point...Registered four assists and one turnover in 20 minutes of action versus Temple...Recorded career-highs of four points, five assists and three steals versus Penn...Went three-for-four from the foul line against Southwest Texas State...Grabeed a career-high six rebounds against Boston College...Also in the BC game she had two points, one block, two assists and no turnovers.

Jenea Skeeters
1997-98: Multi-dimensional player who can score both inside and outside...Has started all 12 games at small forward...Averaging 10.2 ppg and 2.7 rpg in 28.7 mpg...Recorded nine points and four assists versus LaSalle...Recorded 12 points and three steals against UAB...Had a game-high 16 points in win over Va. Tech in St. Mary's Tournament Championship game...Named to the St. Mary's All-Tournament team...Scored all 12 of her points in the first half against Pittsburgh...Scored all 11 of her points in the first half versus Temple on five-for-nine shooting...Netted a season-high 17 points against Penn and equaled season-bests with five rebounds and three steals...Shot five-of-nine for 10 points versus Georgetown and also tied season-high with two assists.

Mary Beth Snell
1997-98: Very intelligent player...Outstanidng three-point shooter...Averaging 1.9 ppg and 0.9 rpg in 8.1 mpg...Played in nine of 12 games thus far this year...Went one-for-two from three-point range against LaSalle...Played a career-high six minutes against LaSalle...Tallied four minutes at Pittsburgh where she went 0-for-two from the field...Recorded a season-high 13 minutes against Temple...Tallied a career-high 11 points on four-for-eight shooting, including a three-for-seven effort from three-point range, in win over Penn...Netted three points versus Vanderbilt...Played six minutes and had one steal against Boston College.

Megan Stewart
1997-98: Solid defensive player with a good work-ethic...Had five points on two-for-four shooting from the field in win over UAB...Played a season-high 15 minutes at Temple where she shot two-for-four from the field for four points and added three assists and two rebounds...Recorded best game of her career in win over Penn with a career-best 17 points (seven-for-eight from the field and three-for-four from three-point range), a career-best equalling three assists in a career-high 20 minutes...Tied a season-high with two rebounds versus Vanderbilt. ..Pulled-down a season-high three rebounds versus Boston College.