February 13, 1999

Villanova, Pa.--- Hosting the University of West Virginia Mountaineers on Saturday, February 13, the Villanova women's basketball team surpassed the .500 mark on the season by defeating the Mountaineers 65-60, at the Pavilion, led by redshirt sophomore guard Lauren Pellicane's 19 points. With the victory, the Wildcats improve to 12-11 overall and 8-7 in Big East Conference play.

Villanova got down early trailing 16-10 at the 11:32 mark, before a 10-3 run in the next 4:46 gave the Wildcats their first lead at 20-19. Junior guard Mary Beth Snell and sophomore center Brandi Barnes sparked the run by scoring five points apiece during that span. After falling behind by five, Villanova rallied once again to tie the score at 27-27 with just over 44 seconds remaining in the half, on a three-pointer by Pellicane. West Virginia scored the last basketball of the half with 16.9 seconds left on a Maria Tchobanova lay up to take a 29-27 lead into intermission.

Both teams shot poorly in the first half, as the Wildcats hit 31.3 percent on 10-for-32 from the field, while the Mountaineers shot 38.7 percent on 12-for-31 from the field. Barnes led Villanova with nine points and four rebounds at the break. West Virginia (10-14, 5-11) was led by Tchobanova's nine points and six boards.

The Mountaineers jumped to a quick 40-35 lead in the second stanza, before the Wildcats took their first lead of the half, 44-42, on three consecutive three-pointers from Pellicane. With the game tied at 44-44, Villanova went on a 10-0 run in a span of 4:11 behind a lay up, and a three-point field goal by junior forward Jenea Skeeters. Senior point guard Shanette Lee scored seven points down the stretch, including six-of-seven from the foul line, for the Wildcats to seal a 65-60 victory.

Pellicane finished the game with 19 points for Villanova, on five-for-10 shooting from the field and four-for-nine shooting from the three-point arc. Lee was outstanding in the victory as well, scoring 13 points and adding six assists. Barnes contributed nine points and eight rebounds on the afternoon, while Skeeters had nine points and three assists.

For the Mountaineers in the loss, center Ilse Opstaele scored 12 points, and Tchobanova had 11 points, 12 rebounds and six assists. Morton, Pa., native and Cardinal O'Hara graduate Brandi Batch had 11 points on the day as well.

The Wildcats will resume play on Wednesday, Feb. 17, as they travel to Boston College to play the Eagles at 7:00 p.m.