Jan. 12, 2008

Box Score

VILLANOVA, Pa. - Villanova (11-5, 1-2 Big East) made seven free throws in the final 2:45 and senior Stacie Witman (Plymouth Meeting, Pa.) hit a key jumper with 47 seconds remaining in a 57-51 victory on Saturday afternoon over Georgetown (10-5, 0-2 Big East) at the Pavilion.

The Wildcats led by a tentative 48-45 margin after two Hoya free throws with 3:35 left. However, Witman made a pair of free throws moments later and Georgetown missed two shots and committed a turnover on its next three possessions.

Another pair of Hoya free throws with 1:16 left trimmed the deficit to 52-47 but on the ensuing Villanova possession the Wildcats ran the shot clock down and Witman drilled a jumper to restore the lead to seven points. Witman scored all 17 of her points in the second half, including 10 in the last 7:55. She added five rebounds and matched junior Lisa Karcic (New Hyde Park, N.Y.) for the game high scoring total. Karcic scored 14 of her 17 points in the opening 20 minutes.

Earlier in the pivotal second half a 12-0 run by Villanova in a span of exactly six minutes forged a 41-32 advantage for the Wildcats. Junior Laura Kurz (Lower Gwynedd, Pa.) started the run with a jumper at the 15:43 mark and Witman hit a three-pointer on the next possession to give Villanova the lead for good. After a layup by Kurz made the score 36-32 with 14:09 to play, Georgetown was never closer than three points the rest of the way.

Kurz chipped in 15 points - 11 in the second half - and a team-high eight rebounds to round out three frontcourt players in double figures for the second straight game for the Wildcats. After shooting just 33 percent (7-of-21) from the field in the first period, Villanova hit on 48 percent (10-of-21) shooting in the second stanza and also made 10-of-12 (83%) free throws after halftime.

Kieraah Marlow led the Hoyas with 15 points and seven rebounds, while Jaleesa Butler added 12 points and a game-high nine caroms.

Georgetown had an early advantage as the Wildcats went nearly seven minutes without a point and nearly eight minutes without a field goal early on. Karcic hit a three-pointer in the opening minute of the game but the Hoyas eventually led 11-3 seven minutes in. Villanova eventually went on a 14-5 run and a layup by sophomore Tia Grant (Lido Beach, N.Y.) with 6:12 to play in the half gave the Wildcats a 17-16 lead.

The lead changed hands four times in the final six minutes of the first half and nine times in the game.

Villanova goes on the road for the first time in conference play when it visits Notre Dame at 7 p.m. this coming Wednesday. The Fighting Irish are ranked No. 14 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll.

NOTES: In the last two games the trio of Karcic, Kurz and Witman have combined to score 98 out of 106 Wildcat points (92.5%) ... The three were the only scorers for Villanova in a 51-49 loss to Seton Hall on Tuesday evening ... This was the second straight game for the Wildcats in which neither side held a double-digit lead at any point in the game.