Feb. 23, 2006

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Villanova, PA - Seniors Betsy McManus (Pearl River, N.Y./Pearl River) and Liad Suez-Karni (Even-Yehuda, Israel/Ostrovsky) each hit a pair of key free throws in the waning moments of the game to help the Villanova Wildcats (16-9, 7-7 BIG EAST) defeat the visiting Seton Hall Pirates (6-19, 3-11 BIG EAST) 59-55 this evening at the Pavilion.

The Wildcats have now won four of their last five games.

Villanova came out of the break leading 25-24 and used a 13-2 run to start the second half, capped by two straight three-pointers from Suez-Karni to give `Nova a 38-28 lead with 15:19 remaining. Just over a minute later sophomore Stacie Witman (Plymouth Meeting, Pa./Plymouth Whitemarsh) made all three free throws after being fouled on a three-point attempt.

But a 14-5 Seton Hall run over the next seven minutes got the Pirates to within two, 48-46, with 6:58 to go in the game. Suez-Karni hit a key jumper with 5:59 to go and McManus sunk a three-pointer almost a minute later to push the `Cats edge back to 53-48, but SHU's Shantel Brown hit a pair of free throws followed by a three to tie the game at 53 with 4:02 remaining.

Suez-Karni again came up huge for the Wildcats as she made two free throws at 2:40, and on the next Villanova possession, made a lay up to extend `Nova's advantage to four, 57-53, with 2:02 to go. Pirate Amber Harris hit a jumper with 18 seconds left cut Villanova's lead in half, but McManus hit both of her free throws with 14 seconds left to seal the win for the `Cats.

The two teams stayed close to start the game, with Villanova leading 8-6 at the 14:11 mark. A McManus three and a three from senior Jenna Vianni (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Our Lady of Lourdes) book-ended a 17-6 rally by the `Cats, which put them up 25-12 with 5:27 to go in the half. However, SHU closed the half with a 12-0 run to erase all but one point of the `Cats' lead.

This game was the 11th time this season `Nova has recorded single digit turnovers. They had 7 for the game and only committed one in the second half.

Suez-Karni led all players with 21 points. She was coming off a career-high 34 against Providence on February 18. The senior shot 7-17 from the field, including 3-6 from behind the three-point line. She also had eight rebounds, three assists, and two blocks. Junior Jackie Adamshick (Allentown, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) contributed 11 points and six rebounds on 5-9 field goal shooting. McManus added eight points and four assists.

Villanova will celebrate the achievements of its seven seniors this Saturday, February 25 in the Wildcats' final home game of the season, a conference tilt against Georgetown that is set to tip off at 2:00 p.m.