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No. 25 Villanova University (18-6 Overall, 9-4 Big East)

vs.

No. 3 University of Connecticut (21-2 Overall, 11-1 Big East)

February 18, 2001 * Noon

The Pavilion

Villanova, Pa.

Series History:

Overall Series Record: UConn Leads 22-15

Last VU Win: 1/27/93, 50-44

Last UConn Win: 2/4/01, 75-39

Streak: UConn has won 12-straight

Media Information:

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

Internet Site- 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

Television- Comcast SportsNet-- Noon

Radio- WFIL 560-AM-- Noon

Game Notes:

WILDCATS GAIN RANKING: For the first time this season, the Villanova women's basketball has cracked the ESPN/USA Today top 25. In the poll released on Monday, Feb. 12, Villanova is No. 25 with 61 points. Virginia is No. 24 with 64 points. Earlier this season on Monday, Jan. 22, the Wildcats earned a national ranking for the first time since the 1986-87 season when they were No. 24 in the Associated Press poll. Villanova stayed at No. 24 for two weeks before falling out of the poll on Monday, Feb. 5. In this week's AP poll, the Wildcats are third in teams receiving votes with 41 points. Iowa is No. 25 in this week's AP poll with 54 points.

ROUND TWO: Sunday's game between Villanova and Connecticut will be the second meeting between the two teams in the last two weeks. On Feb. 4 at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Conn., the Huskies defeated the Wildcats, 75-39. Connecticut led 33-15 at intermission before outscoring the Wildcats, 42-24, in the second half. For the game, the Huskies shot 55.4 percent from the field, while Villanova shot just 26.3 percent. From three-point range, Connecticut was 5-of-12 for 41.7 percent, while the 'Cats were 5-of-31 for 16.1 percent. Connecticut was led in the win by Shea Ralph who had a game-high 14 points, while Kennitra Johnson added 13 points. Also scoring double figures for the Huskies were Asjha Jones with 12 and Tamika Williams with 10. Villanova was led by freshman Courtney Mix who netted 13 points on 4-of-8 shooting to go with seven rebounds.

APPROACHING HISTORY: Wildcat head coach Harry Perretta needs just one more win to become Villanova's all-time winningest basketball coach for both men's and women's basketball. Entering the Connecticut game on Sunday, Feb. 18, Perretta has 413 wins to his credit which ties him with former Wildcat men's coach Al Severance who tallied 413 victories from 1936-61. Earlier this season on Dec. 5, Perretta recorded his 400th career win in a 60-55 victory over Temple.

Villanova Top 5 Basketball Coaching Records By Wins

1. Harry Perretta (1978-present): 413-242

Al Severance (men's bball/1936-61): 413-201

3. Rollie Massimino (men's bball/1973-92): 357-241

4. Jack Kraft (men's bball/1961-73): 238-95

5. Steve Lappas (men's bball/1992-present): 171-105

SHOOTING SUCCESS: Since the Connecticut game on Sunday, Feb. 4, when the Wildcats shot just 26.3 percent from the field (15-for-57), Villanova has shot 82-for-157 (52.2 percent) in the last three games combined. Against Georgetown on Feb. 7, Villanova was 23-of-50 for 46 percent, while they were 27-of-51 for 52.9 percent in the win over Syracuse on Feb. 10. In last Wednesday's win at Pittsburgh, Villanova was 32-of-56 from the field for 57.1 percent. Also, in the last three games combined, Villanova is 24-of-53 (45.2 percent) from three-point range.

PLAYING WELL: Senior center Brandi Barnes continues to play well for the Wildcats. In the last three games, Barnes is 21-of-35 (60 percent) from the field and she has tallied 47 points (15.6 ppg) in the three-game span. In addition, Barnes has registered 15 rebounds and seven blocked shots in the last three contests. Entering the Connecticut game on Sunday, Feb. 18, Barnes leads Villanova in scoring (14.0 ppg.), field goal percentage (139-of-269 for 51.7 percent) and blocked shots (33), She is also second on the squad in rebounding with a 5.9 rpg. average. In 24 games this year, Barnes has scored double figures in 19 of the contests, including five games of 20 points or more. In the latest Big East statistics, Barnes is 10th in scoring, fourth in field goal percentage, tied for fifth in blocked shots and 20th in rebounding.

ROOKIE REVIEW: Head coach Harry Perretta got contributions from two freshmen reserves in Wednesday's 73-44 win at Pittsburgh. In the win, freshman guard and Pittsburgh native Brandi Harris played 12 minutes and tallied a season-best six assists to go with two rebounds and two steals. Freshman reserve center Jeanine Johnson also gave Perretta quality minutes with a career-high 12 points on 5-of-5 shooting from the floor and a 2-of-2 effort from the free throw line.

FLOOR LEADER: Villanova junior point guard Mimi Riley has done a terrific job all season long of running the Wildcat attack. After 24 games, Riley has 124 assists and 43 turnovers for a Big East Conference best 2.8:1 assist to turnover ratio. She is currently averaging 8.3 ppg., 4.4 rpg., and 5.1 apg. From the field for the season, Riley is 65-of-143 for 45.5 percent and she is 10-of-26 (38.5 percent) from behind the arc. Riley missed all of last season due to an injured foot. A senior academically, Riley medically redshirted last year and has a fifth year of eligibility remaining for the 2001-2002 season.

COURTNEY CONTRIBUTES: Freshman forward Courtney Mix continues to establish herself as one of the top rookies in the Big East Conference. The versatile Mix has seen time this year at both guard spots and both forward positions. After 24 games, Mix is averaging 7.4 ppg., a team-high 6.4 rpg., a team-best 1.6 spg., and 2.2 apg., in 25.7 minutes per contest. In her last outing versus Pittsburgh, Mix made 6-of-7 from the field for 13 points to go with seven rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal in 27 minutes of action. The 13-point effort was her seventh double figure scoring game of the season. In her last six games (171 total minutes), Mix has committed just two turnovers. Two Sundays ago at Connecticut, Mix was the only Wildcat to score double figures, as she tallied 13 points (4-of-8 shooting) to go with seven rebounds and two assists in a career-high 35 minutes.

FROM BEHIND THE ARC: Sophomore guard Trish Juhline currently leads the Big East Conference in three-point field goals made with 57. In 24 games, Juhline is 57-of-148 for 38.5 percent. West Virginia's Darya Kydryavtseva and Notre Dame's Alicia Ratay are tied for second with 49 three-pointers made. Juhline is currently second on the team in scoring with an 11.3 ppg. average. In addition, she is averaging 2.8 apg. (second on team), 2.5 rpg., and 1.0 spg. In 24 games this year, Juhline has made three or more point field goals 12 times and she has tallied at least two triples on 15 occasions.

TEAM BALL: In Villanova's last three games, the Wildcats have recorded an assist on 67 of their 82 baskets. Against Georgetown, Villanova had an assist on 19 of 23 field goals, while versus Syracuse, the `Cats were credited with an assist on 24 of 27 field goals. In Wednesday's win at Pittsburgh, Villanova registered an assist on 24 of its 32 field goals. For the season, Villanova has had an assist on 441 of its 560 field goals for 78.7 percent. By comparison, Villanova's opponents have had an assist on 288 of 527 field goals 54.6 percent.

SHOOTING THE THREE-BALL : Villanova continues to use the three-point shot to its advantage. After 24 games, the Wildcats are 179-of-514 (34.8 percent) from three-point land, while their opponents are just 55-of-230 for 23.9 percent. When you look at it in points, Villanova has outscored its opposition by 372 points at 537-165 from behind the arc. The Wildcats are currently averaging 21.4 three-point field goal attempts per game, while they are making an average of 7.4 triples per contest which ranks tied for fifth in the latest NCAA statistics. There have been eight games this year where Villanova has made 10 or more three-point field goals in a game.

108 STRAIGHT: Entering the Connecticut game on Sunday, Feb. 18, Villanova has made at least one three-point field goal in 108-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 108 game span, Villanova has tied the NCAA record for three-point field goals made in a game with 18 (vs. Penn 12/20/97 and earlier this year versus WVU on 1/3/00).

CONSISTENT STARTERS: Villanova has used the same starting line-up in 21 of its 24 games this season. The starting five of Mimi Riley (point guard), Trish Juhline (shooting guard), Brandi Barnes (center), Katie Davis (small forward) and Nicole Druckenmiller (power forward) has been used in every contest except Penn State, Fairfield and Notre Dame. Junior Stephanie Baker started for Barnes versus Penn State and she started for Druckenmiller at Notre Dame. Against Fairfield, head coach Harry Perretta started Kelly Nash who is a Fairfield, Conn. native in place of Katie Davis.

THE IMPORTANCE OF 60: Villanova enters the Connecticut game with a 16-1 record when scoring 60 or more points. The only game this year the Wildcats lost when reaching the 60-point plateau was an 81-70 setback against Penn State in the season opener. Dating back to the 1997-98 season, Villanova is 51-13 when scoring 60 or more points.

PLAYING D: As is the case with all Harry Perretta coached teams, this year's Wildcat squad is once again playing stingy defense. The Wildcats are currently giving up 57.8 points per game for all games and 56.6 points per contest in Big East Conference games. In 24 games this year, Villanova has yielded 60 or less points 16 times and they have given up 50 or less points on four occasions.

BLOODLINES: Sophomore forward Nicole Druckenmiller and freshman forward Courtney Mix both have members of their immediate families with professional athlete status. Druckenmiller's brother, Jim, was a star quarterback at Virginia Tech and played in the NFL with both the San Francisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins. He is currently a member of the Memphis Maniax of the XFL. Mix's father, Steve, played in the NBA for the Pistons (1969-72), 76ers (1973-82), Bucks (1982), and Lakers (1982-83). He is currently a television broadcaster for the 76ers.

BIG WINS: By defeating No. 10 Rutgers on Saturday, Jan. 20, Villanova has now tallied three wins over ranked opponents in the last two seasons. Last season, Villanova won at No. 9 Rutgers, 66-65, in overtime and they defeated No. 19 Boston College, 60-59, in a game played at Villanova.

2000-2001 DOUBLE-DOUBLES: Brandi Barnes vs. Pennsylvania (12/12): 20 points, 11 rebounds Brandi Barnes vs. Bucknell (12/29): 20 points, 11 rebounds Courtney Mix vs. Georgetown(1/10): 11 points, 11 rebounds Brandi Barnes vs. Virginia Tech (1/23): 16 points, 10 rebounds

VILLANOVA PICKED SEVENTH: In the Big East Conference preseason Coaches poll, Villanova was chosen to finish seventh in the 14-member Big East Conference. The following is the coaches order of finish.

1. Connecticut 169

2. Rutgers 152

3. Notre Dame 150

4. Boston College 129

5. Georgetown 100

Virginia Tech 100

7. VILLANOVA 94

8. Pittsburgh 92

9. Miami 88

10. Syracuse 53

11. St. John's 49

12. Providence 44

13. Seton Hall 39

14. West Virginia 15