Nov. 16, 1999

Villanova, Pa.--- In the final exhibition game for the Villanova University women's basketball team before the start of the 1999-00 season, the Wildcats lost to the New York Gazelles, 78-72, on Tuesday, Nov. 16, in a game played in The Pavilion on the campus of Villanova University. With the loss, the `Cats finished the exhibition season with a 1-1 record.

Villanova opened the first half on a tear jumping out to a 13-5 lead after 5:37, behind five points from senior forward Jenea Skeeters. The Gazelles fought back to tie the contest at 21-21, but the Wildcats wound down the final 8:47 of the first half on a 23-11 run to take a 44-33 lead into intermission.

Villanova had a hot-shooting first half, hitting 18-of-34 from the field for 52.9 percent shooting. Leading the Wildcat charge was Skeeters, who hit five of her eight attempts to register 10 points in the game's first stanza. Coming off the bench to spark `Nova was freshman Katie Davis, who scored eight points. For New York, ex-Virginia guard Tora Suber tallied 13 points.

At the 11:53 mark of the second half, Villanova held a slim 58-55 lead after a jumper by Skeeters from the top of the key. On the Gazelles next possession, they pulled even at 58-58 on a three-pointer from the left corner by forward Octavia Thomas.

Villanova would pull ahead one more time and stretch its lead to as much as 70-61, before New York rallied once again. Four points each by Suber and center Dawn Johnson sparked an 11-2 run in a 2:58 span, as the Gazzzles drew even at 72-72. Taking its first lead of the game at the 1:20 mark on a baseline jumper by Kelley Gibson, New York pulled away in the final moments of regulation for a 78-72 victory.

Recording her second straight game of 20-plus points for the Wildcats was Skeeters, who shot 11-for-15 for 22 points. Scoring in double digits as well for Villanova were Davis and fellow freshman Trish Juhline who had 14 and 11 points respectively.

Leading the Gazelles to victory was Suber who finished with 23 points, including three shots from three-point territory. Johnson and Gibson also contributed double digits for New York, which improves to 10-2. Johnson recorded 18 points, while Gibson came off the bench to contribute 11.

Villanova will open the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 20, traveling to University Park, Pa., to take on the Penn State Nittany Lions at 7:30 p.m.

Villanova Scorers

Jenea Skeeters - 22

Trish Juhline - 14

Katie Davis - 11

Brandi Barnes - 7

Lauren Pellicane - 6

Nicole Druckenmiller - 6

Stephanie Baker - 4

Mimi Riley - 2