February 28, 1999

Box Score

By TOM CANAVAN
AP Sports Writer

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) - Niele Ivey scored 19 points and hit two consecutive 3-pointers to ignite an early 16-3 spurt that led No. 10 Notre Dame to an 83-53 victory against Villanova in the quarterfinals of the Big East Conference tournament on Sunday night.

The third-seeded Irish (24-3) led by 19 points at halftime and poured it on in the second half in advancing to a semifinal game against No. 7 Rutgers (26-4) on Monday night. No. 6 Connecticut (25-4) will play Georgetown (18-10) in the other semifinal.

The win was Notre Dame's fourth straight and 15th in 16 games. The only loss in that stretch was here on Feb. 10 against Rutgers, 77-57.

Notre Dame controlled this game so much that center Ruth Riley, the conference's leading scorer at 16.7 points, only played 13 minutes. She finished with nine points. Reserve Sherisha Hills was the only other Irish player in double figures with 10, although guard Danielle Green almost had a double-double with nine points and 12 rebounds.

Jenea Skeeters had 14 points and seven rebounds to lead Villanova (14-14). No players finished in double figures for the Wildcats, who shot themselves out of the game in the first half, 24 percent (6 of 25). They finished 18-for-52, or 35 percent.

Ivey's two straight 3-pointers gave Notre Dame a 15-7 lead and before the spurt was over Green added two layups and a free throw. Sheila McMillen's 3-pointer capped the run and gave the Irish a 25-10 lead.

Notre Dame's biggest lead was 72-37 on a basket by Meaghan Leahy with 6:11 to play.