Villanova University

Dec. 1, 2005

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VILLANOVA, Pa. - A late 10-0 run by the visiting Colonials was the difference in the game, and Villanova (4-1) was defeated 68-60 by George Washington (2-2) in its home opener from the Pavilion on Thursday evening.

A three-point play by senior forward Kate Dessart Mager (Media, Pa.) with 4:04 remaining in the game tied the score at 58-58, but the Wildcats then did not score until there was under a minute left and the game was out of reach. The Colonials scored 10 unanswered points in a span of 2:01 and defeated Villanova for the second straight season.

Sarah-Jo Lawrence made a three-pointer with 3:40 remaining to give George Washington the lead for good and then benefited from five Wildcat turnovers in the final 3:15. The Colonials hit three free throws in the closing minutes to secure the victory.

Dessart Mager led three Villanova players in double figures with 13 points behind 7-of-8 free throw shooting. She also had five rebounds and a career-high four steals in 33 minutes. Senior forward Liad Suez-Karni (Even-Yehuda, Israel) added 10 points and a team-high six rebounds, while senior guard Jenna Viani (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) chipped in 10 points, three assists and three steals.

Rebounding was a key factor in the game, as George Washington managed 12 offensive caroms and an overall 42-25 edge on the glass. The Colonials owned a 16-5 edge in second-chance points. Jessica Simmonds registered a double-double with a game-high 14 rebounds in addition to 10 points, while Whitney Allen had seven points and 12 rebounds. Kimberly Beck scored a game-high 20 points on the strength of 8-of-11 shooting.

George Washington scored the first seven points of the game and led for the first 24 minutes of the game before two free throws by Viani four minutes into the second half gave the Wildcats the lead for good at 37-36. The Colonials led by nine late in the first half (25-16) but Villanova closed to within 36-31 at the break.

Suez-Karni and junior forward Jackie Adamshick (Allentown, Pa.) hit jumpers to open the second half and George Washington was held off the scoreboard for the first 5:14 of the second half. There were three ties and the teams traded the lead four times in just over three minutes but the Colonials never trailed after knocking down consecutive jumpers just 22 seconds apart.

The Wildcats continue a four-game homestand on Sunday afternoon with a 3 p.m. tip-off against Penn. The game will be the first of four Big 5 games Villanova will play this season.

NOTES: Villanova's record in home openers dropped to 27-10 with the loss ... The Wildcats had a season-high 12 steals and forced 19 George Washington turnovers ... Villanova was 17-of-21 from the free throw line (81.0 percent).