Villanova University

Check out the Villanova women's basketball game notes for this weekend's Big East Conference contest featuring the Villanova Wildcats (12-7, 6-3) and the Syracuse Orangewomen (12-7, 5-3). The two teams will face off on Saturday, Feb. 2, at Manley Field House in Syracuse, N.Y., with tipoff at 2:00 p.m. Click on the pdf link below for a complete version of Villanova's game notes.

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GAME NOTES

Villanova Wildcats (12-7 Overall, 6-3 Big East)

vs.

Syracuse Orangewomen (12-7 Overall, 5-3 Big East)

2:00 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 2, 2002

Syracuse, N.Y.

Manley Field House (9,500)

SERIES HISTORY

Overall Series Record: Villanova Leads 30-10

Last VU Win: 2/10/01, 75-51

Last SU Win: 1/19/00, 66-42

Streak: Villanova Has Won Two-Straight

MEDIA INFORMATION

Interview Requests- All Interview requests should be directed toward Dean Kenefick, Director of Media Relations at (610) 519-4120.

On the Web- Villanova's recently re-designed web-page can be found at: www.villanova.com.

Hotline- Get up-to-date scores on all your favorite Wildcat sports on the official hotline: (888) 400-NOVA

WILDCAT NOTES

FIRST OF TWO: Villanova and Syracuse will get to know one another very well over the next two weeks, as the two teams will play twice in the next 14 days. After round one at Syracuse on Saturday, Feb. 2, the Orangewomen will travel to Philadelphia to take on Villanova on Saturday, Feb. 16.

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: The home team has had the upper hand of late in the Villanova/Syracuse series. In the last five games between the two teams, the home team has emerged victorious with all five wins coming by double figure margins. Villanova has really struggled in its last two trips to Manley Field House. During the 1999-00 season, the Wildcats lost at Syracuse by a score of 66-42 and in 1998-99, Villanova fell at Manley, 81-59. Before the last two trips to Syracuse, Villanova had a great deal of success at Manley Field House, winning seven-straight from the 1990-91 season to the 1997-98 campaign.

OUT OF NOWHERE: Entering play at West Virginia on Saturday, Jan. 26, Villanova was averaging just 59.5 points per game in their first 17 games of the season. In the last two games, the Wildcats have scored over 80 points both games and have tallied a combined 168 points in the last two contests. Villanova defeated West Virginia in Morgantown by a score of 88-45 and then defeated Miami at home on Tuesday, Jan. 29 by a score of 80-52. The back-to-back 80 point games is the first time ever that the Wildcats have scored 80 or more points in consecutive Big East Conference games. Entering play at Syracuse, the Wildcats are now averaging 62.2 points per game.

RED HOT: Villanova has been in a zone from three-point range the last two weeks. In the last four games, the Wildcats are 49-for-111 (44.1 percent) from behind the arc, including going 31-for-61 (50.8 percent) in the last two games. Villanova's three-point shooting barrage began versus Connecticut on Jan. 19 when they were 13-of-23 from long distance. After making just 5-of-27 from three-point range versus Boston College on Jan. 23, the 'Cats rebounded to make 17-of-29 three's at West Virginia on Jan. 26. In their last outing versus Miami on Jan. 29, Villanova made 14 triples in 32 attempts. This Wildcats have now had five games this season where they tallied double figure three-point field goals made.

50/50: After not shooting 50 percent or better from the field in the first 17 games of the season, Villanova has shot 50 percent in each of the last two games. Amazingly, the Wildcats were an identical 29-of-57 (50.9 percent) from the floor in wins over West Virginia (Jan. 26) and Miami (Jan. 29). Villanova has now shot 40 percent or better in six of the 19 games this season. For the year, Villanova is shooting 38.3 percent (407-of-1,062) from the field.

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER: Junior forward Katie Davis turned in the best performance of her career last Wednesday versus Miami. In the win over the Hurricanes, Davis scored a career-high 27 points on 9-of-13 shooting, including a 7-of-11 effort from three-point range. The seven triples represents a career-best effort for her. Davis also recorded three steals, two rebounds and two assists in 31 minutes of action. The 27 points marks the 12th double figure scoring game for Davis this season. Davis has also been playing a strong floor game for the Wildcats as evident by her being charged with just three turnovers in the last six games. For the year, Davis is averaging 12.0 ppg., 3.7 rpg., 1.4 apg., and 1.4 spg. Davis leads the 'Cats in three-point field goals made with 51 in 118 attempts for 43.2 percent and in overall field goal percentage (45.3 percent). Her 51 three-point field goals ranks her third in the Big East Conference in the latest statistical rankings.

PEAK PERFORMER Junior guard Trish Juhline has given the Wildcats a big boost since returning from a broken foot that sidelined her for seven games, In the six games since her return, Juhline has made 34-of-66 (51.5 percent) from the floor, 22-of-43 (51.1 percent) from three-point range and 14-of-16 (87.5 percent) from the foul line for a combined 104 points (17.3 ppg.). In 12 games this year. Juhline is averaging a team-best 14.5 ppg., 2.8 rpg., 2.9 apg., and 1.3 spg. From the field this season, she has made 62-of-138 for 44.9 percent and 32-of-73 (43.8 percent) from behind the arc.

ROAD TRIP: Beginning with Saturday's game at Syracuse, the Villanova Wildcats will spend a lot of time on buses, airplanes and in hotels the next week. After the bus trip to Syracuse, the 'Cats will fly to Chapel Hill, N.C. to play the University of North Carolina on Wednesday, Feb. 6 before ending the three-game road trip at Rutgers on Feb. 9. Thus far this year, Villanova is 5-5 at home and 5-2 on the road.

2001-02 DOUBLE-DOUBLES: Mimi Riley 23 points 10 assists vs. Penn (12/11/01) Stephanie Baker 11 points 16 rebounds vs. Rider (12/29/01)

RUNNING THE SHOW: Senior co-captain Mimi Riley has been one of the team's most consistent performers in this her senior season. In addition to running the Wildcat attack from her point guard spot, Riley has looked to score more this year. Entering play versus Syracuse on Feb. 2, Riley has scored in double figures in 14 of the last 16 games. Her best effort of the 16-game stretch came against the University of Pennsylvania on Dec. 11 when she scored a career-high 23 points. In her last outing versus Miami, Riley netted 11 points to go with nine assists, four rebounds and two steals. For the year, she is averaging 11.4 points per game to go with a team-best 5.2 apg., and 3.9 rpg. Her assist to turnover ratio of 2.13 to 1 currently ranks fourth in the Big East Conference. Riley currently ranks ninth all-time at Villanova in career assists with 372. As a junior last year, Riley averaged 8.1 ppg., 3.7 rpg., and a team-high 5.1 apg.

THE GOOD HANDS PEOPLE: Villanova has done a very good job the last six games of not turning the ball over. In the last six contests versus Notre Dame, Seton Hall, Connecticut, Boston College, West Virginia and Miami, the Wildcats have had 10 or less turnovers in five of the six contests and have committed just 52 turnovers in the six games combined. In four of the six contests, Villanova has had single digit turnovers. Their lowest turnover games of the six came at Seton Hall and at West Virginia when they were charged with just six in both contests. In 19 games this season, Villanova has had single digit turnovers on six different occasions. For the year, Villanova has committed 229 turnovers for an average of 12.0 per game.

134-STRAIGHT: Entering play versus Syracuse on Saturday, Feb. 2, Villanova has made at least one three-point field goal in 134-straight games. The last time the 'Cats failed to connect on a triple in a game came at Boston College on Jan. 25, 1997. Twice during this 134 game span, Villanova has tied the then NCAA record for three-point field goals made in a game with 18 (vs. Penn 12/20/97/ vs. West Virginia on 1/3/00).

FROM BEHIND THE ARC: Villanova will use the three-point shot to its advantage whenever the opportunity presents itself. Entering play at Syracuse on Feb. 2, Villanova is 160-for-475 (33.7 percent) from behind the arc, while Wildcat opponents are 62-of-182 (34.1 percent) from long distance. In terms of points, Villanova has outscored its opponents 480-186 from three-point range. Villanova's best three-point shooting games of the year came last Saturday at West Virginia when they were 17-of-29 from long distance. The team's lowest three-point shooting game of the year came at Temple when they were 1-of-5 from behind the arc. Villanova is currently averaging 8.4 made three-point field goals per game and averaging 25.0 three-point shots per game. Last year, the Wildcats made 228-of-660 from behind the arc for 34.5 percent. In 31 games a year ago, Villanova averaged 22.7 three-point field goals per game and made 7.3 triples per contest.

TRAINING ROOM REPORT: Two Wildcat starters are currently in the line-up despite playing with an injury. Senior center Stephanie Baker broke her left thumb in warm-ups of the St. John's game on Sunday, Jan. 6., while junior forward Nicole Druckenmiller is currently playing with an injured right foot. Baker has played the last eight games with the injured thumb and in those eight contests she has scored 38 points and grabbed 37 rebounds. Freshman Courtney Roantree is already on the Wildcat injury list. Roantree tore her ACL last summer and is out for the season.