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No. 24 Villanova University (18-7 Overall, 9-5 Big East)

vs.

Providence College (9-15 Overall, 3-11 Big East)

February 24, 2001 * 2 p.m.

The Pavilion

Villanova, Pa.

Series History:

Overall Series Record: VU Leads 21-19

Last VU Win: 3/4/00, 75-53

Last PC Win: 2/26/00, 70-59

Streak: VU has won 6 of last 8

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

Radio- WZZD 990-AM-- 2 p.m.

Play-by-Play -- Ryan Fannon

Color Commentary -- Karen Daly

Game Notes:

WILDCATS MOVE UP: After being ranked No. 25 last week by the ESPN/USA Today Top 25 on Monday, Feb. 12, the Wildcats moved up one spot this week to No. 24. In the ESPN/USA Today poll released on Monday, Feb. 19, Villanova checked in at No. 24 with 51 points. Wisconsin is No. 25 this week with 42 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 fourth in teams receiving votes with 28 points. Iowa is No. 25 in this week's AP poll with 43 points.

FAREWELL SENIORS: Saturday's game with Providence will be the last time that four Wildcat seniors will ever play a game at The Pavilion. Playing in their home finale on Saturday will be Brandi Barnes, Jen Papay, Lauren Pellicane and Megan Stewart. Barnes, Pellicane and Stewart are all fifth-year seniors. Pellicane and Stewart each redshirted a year, while Barnes sat out a year after transferring from the University of Maryland. In her three-year Wildcat career, Barnes has scored 924 points and grabbed 501 rebounds. Pellicane has tallied 520 points and connected on 119 three-point field goals in her career, while Stewart has tallied 129 points and 62 assists during her Main Line career. Papay currently has 32 career points to her credit.

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 Providence game on Saturday, Feb. 22, 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): 413-243

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

RECORD ATTENDANCE: A crowd of 6,229 attended Villanova's game against Connecticut last Sunday at The Pavilion. The 6,229 fans establishes a new Pavilion record for a women's game. The previous best crowd was 4,109 at the 1987 Big East Championship game between Villanova and Boston College. Before last Sunday, the largest regular season women's attendance mark at The Pavilion was 3,622 (Villanova vs. UConn--2/27/95).

NEGATIVE NUMBERS: Villanova had two disappointing statistics in Sunday's 61-43 loss to No. 3 Connecticut. In the loss, the Wildcats made a season-low 11 field goals in 42 attempts for 26.2 percent and they committed a season-high 19 turnovers. For the year, the `Cats are averaging 22.8 field goals per contest and they are committing 12.5 turnovers per game. On the positive side in the loss, Villanova held Connecticut to a season-low 61 points and just 37.9 percent shooting from the field. Connecticut's previous low point total this season was 70 versus Rutgers.

LIFE AFTER CONNECTICUT: Dating back to the 1994-95 season, Villanova has registered an 8-1 record in the next game following Connecticut. All nine of the games followed a loss to a nationally ranked Connecticut team.

HOME FINALE: Saturday's contest with Providence will be the final home game of the 2000-2001 season for the Villanova women's basketball team. Prior to the game, Villanova will honor its four senior student-athletes. During head coach Harry Perretta's Villanova career, the Wildcats have tallied a 13-9 mark on Senior Day.

SUCCESSFUL OPPONENTS: According to Collegerpi.com on Friday, Feb. 23, Villanova had an RPI of nine and the fifth toughest schedule in the country. A big reason why Villanova is ranked so high in the RPI is due to the successful seasons that its opponents are having. Of the 22 teams that the Wildcats have played, 14 have 16 or more wins, while eight have 19 or more victories. Of the 25 games that Villanova has played this year, 19 have come against teams with winning records.

CENTER OF ATTENTION: Senior center Brandi Barnes has had a terrific senior season for the Wildcats. Entering play versus Providence, Barnes leads the Wildcats in scoring (13.7 ppg.), field goal percentage (142-for-276 for 51.4 percent), blocked shots (35) and she is second in rebounding with a 5.9 rpg average. In 25 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 tied for 10th in scoring, fourth in field goal percentage, fourth in blocked shots and is tied for 19th in rebounding.

MIXING IT UP ON THE BOARDS: In last Sunday's loss to No. 3 Connecticut, freshman forward Courtney Mix tallied a game-high tying 10 rebounds. This was the fourth time this year that Mix has reached double figures in rebounds. After 25 games, she currently leads Villanova in rebounding with a 6.6 rpg. average. The versatile Mix has seen time this year at both guard spots and both forward positions. After 25 games, Mix is averaging 7.2 ppg., a team-high 6.6 rpg., a team-best 1.6 spg., and 2.1 apg., in 25.8 minutes per contest. She has also reached double figures in points on seven occasions this season. In her last seven games (200 total minutes), Mix has committed just three turnovers.

TEAM BALL: In Villanova's last four games, the Wildcats have recorded an assist on 77 of their 93 baskets. In last Sunday's setback to Connecticut, Villanova was credited with an assist on 10 of its 11 field goals. For the season, Villanova has had an assist on 451 of its 571 field goals for 78.9 percent. By comparison, Villanova's opponents have had an assist on 302 of 549 field goals 55.0 percent.

DIAL LONG DISTANCE : Villanova continues to use the three-point shot to its advantage. After 25 games, the Wildcats are 183-of-529 (34.6 percent) from three-point land, while their opponents are just 57-of-241 for 23.7 percent. When you look at it in points, Villanova has outscored its opposition by 378 points at 549-171 from behind the arc. The Wildcats are currently averaging 21.1 three-point field goal attempts per game, while they are making an average of 7.3 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.

109 STRAIGHT: Entering the Providence game on Saturday, Feb. 24, Villanova has made at least one three-point field goal in 109-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 109 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).

STABILITY: Villanova has used the same starting line-up in 22 of its 25 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.

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