May 21, 2003

The 2002-03 Villanova University women's basketball team has been named the winner of the Wanamaker Award. The award is presented by the Philadelphia Sports Congress and is given to the "athlete, team or organization that has done the most to reflect credit upon Philadelphia and to the team or sport in which they excel."

"We are very excited and honored to win the Wanamaker Award," said Villanova head coach Harry Perretta. " Growing up in Philadelphia, I know the importance of this award. I am so happy for my players. They are a great group of kids who deserve all the recognition they get because of the way they are as people. They are truly an unselfish group who were a joy to coach."

Other past winners of the prestigious award include Wilt Chamberlain, Joe Frazier, Julius Erving, Joe Frazier and Charles Barkley. The Villanova men's basketball team garnered the honor in 1985 after upsetting Georgetown to win the National Championship, while legendary Villanova track & field coach Jumbo Elliott earned the award in 1969.

It was a memorable year for Perretta and the Wildcats in 2002-03. After tallying a 22-5 regular season record, Villanova earned the No. 3 seed in the Big East Tournament where they captured the conference championship with an improbable 52-48 win over previously unbeaten Connecticut. The win snapped Connecticut's NCAA Division I women's basketball record win streak of 70-straight games.

After claiming the conference crown, the Wildcats earned a No. 2 seed in the Mideast Region of the NCAA Tournament. The seed was not only the highest in school history, but it represented the highest seed ever for a Philadelphia area women's basketball team. The Wildcats won three-straight NCAA Tournament games and advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time in program history before losing to host Tennessee in the regional final.