January 29, 1999
Villanova Wildcats
(9-9 Overall, 5-5 Big East)
at
No. 13 Rutgers Scarlet Knights
( 17-4 Overall, 9-1 Big East)
Saturday, Jan. 30, 1999 - Noon
Louis Brown Athletic Center
Piscataway, N.J.
Series Information
Series Record: Rutgers leads 9-4
Last VU Win: Dec. 1996, 60-54
Last Rutgers Win: Jan. 1999, 55-40
Streak: Rutgers won last meeting
(as of 1/29/99)
Big East OverallTeam W L Pct. W L Pct.Rutgers 9 1 .900 17 4 .810Connecticut 10 1 .909 17 3 .850Notre Dame 8 2 .800 16 2 .889Boston College 8 3 .727 16 3 .842VILLANOVA 5 5 .500 9 9 .500Miami 5 6 .455 10 9 .526St. Johns 5 6 .455 10 12 .455Georgetown 5 6 .455 11 8 .611Syracuse 4 6 .400 8 10 .444Pittsburgh 3 7 .300 8 10 .444West Virginia 3 8 .273 8 11 .421Seton Hall 2 9 .182 5 14 .263Providence 2 9 .182 3 15 .167
Villanova Probable Starters Pos. No. Name PPG. RPG.G 4 Shanette Lee 6.9 3.7G 32 Lauren Pellicane 8.6 1.9C 22 Brandi Barnes 11.6 6.3F 10 Jenn Sliwa 8.0 3.4F 24 Jenea Skeeters 10.5 4.4Pos. No. Name PPG. RPG.G 3 Mimi Riley 5.8 3.2G 31 Mary Beth Snell 2.4 1.1F 51 Stephanie Baker 3.4 3.2 F 20 Shannon Ferretti 1.6 1.2
Rutgers Probable Starters Pos. No. Name PPG. RPG.G 23 Tomora Young 10.0 2.0 G 43 Tasha Pointer 10.5 3.2C 55 Tammy Sutton-Brown 9.3 5.5F 34 Shawnetta Stewart 15.0 8.3F 40 Linda Miles 10.9 5.0Pos. No. Name PPG. RPG.G/F 03 Usha Gilmore 6.3 3.0C 42 Dana Boonen 2.6 1.4C 05 Coko Eggleston 1.2 1.3F 44 Davalyn Cunningham 4.1 3.3
Team Comparison
VU RU 18 Games played 211,071 Points scored 1,475 59.5 avg. points per game 70.2 40.5 fg pct. 47.0 32.3 3-point fg. Pct. 32.2 61.2 free throw Pct. 67.31,043 points allowed 1,175 57.9 Opp. points per game 56.0 582 total rebounds 795 32.3 avg. reb. per game 37.9 304 assists 361 236 turnovers 391 13.1 avg. to. per game 18.6
LAST TIME OUT:VILLANOVA: On Wednesday, Jan. 27, Villanova traveled to the Steel City where they earned a 61-45 win over the Pittsburgh Panthers. Villanova started the game in fine fashion, racing to a 19-4 lead just five minutes into the game. Villanova increased its lead to 27-8 midway through the first half and would go to halftime with a commanding 33-14 lead. Villanova shot 52 percent (15-for-29) in the first stanza, while Pittsburgh shot 36.8 percent (7-of-19) from the floor. The Wildcats did not let up in the second half, as they outscored the Panthers 19-10 in the first 9:27 to take their biggest lead of the game at 52-26. From this point, Villanova would cruise the rest of the way.
Sophomore center Brandi Barnes and sophomore guard Lauren Pellicane led the Wildcats with 12 points. Barnes was 6-of-8 from the floor, while Pellicane connected on 4-of-10 from three-point range. Junior forward Jenea Skeeters had 11 points and career-high tying totals of five steals and four assists. The Panthers were paced by center Nickeia Morris who had 15 points. Kortni Webb and Monique Toney each added 12 points for Pittsburgh.
RUTGERS: The Scarlet Knights are coming off a 56-55 home loss to No. 5 Connecticut on Wednesday, Jan. 27. Rutgers led 29-26 at halftime, but the Huskies outscored the Knights in the second half, 30-26, to gain the victory. Connecticut was led by sophomore Svetlana Abrosimova who had 15 points to go with nine rebounds and freshman Tamika Williams who netted 14. Leading the way for Rutgers was Shawnetta Stewart who scored a game-high 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds and point guard Tasha Pointer who had 10 points. Connecticut committed 26 turnovers and shot 42.9 percent from the floor, while Rutgers tallied 19 turnovers and shot 45.3 percent from the field.
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION: The Villanova/Rutgers game on Saturday. Jan. 30 is a Big East television game. The game, which is scheduled for noon, will be seen live both on Fox Sports New England and the Madison Square Garden Network. At 2 p.m., the game will be seen on a tape delay basis at 2 p.m. Fans in the Philadelphia area can see the game at 4 p.m. on a tape delay basis.
ROUND ONE: Saturdays game between Villanova and Rutgers is the second meeting of the season between the two teams. On Jan. 7 at The Pavilion, Rutgers downed the Wildcats, 55-40. Defense was the name of the game, as neither team was able to get going offensively. Villanova went to intermission with a 22-19 lead. The 19 first half points scored by Rutgers was a season low for points in a half. Villanova came out strong in the second half and grabbed a 31-24 lead with 16:42 remaining in regulation. After the Cats went up 33-26 at the 15:21 mark, Rutgers went on an 11-1 run to take a 37-34 lead with 8:10 on the clock. With Rutgers leading 39-36 at the 7:10 mark, the Scarlet Knights defense held the Wildcats scoreless for over six minutes to increase the lead to 53-36. Villanova finally broke the scoring drought with 39 seconds left to play. Rutgers was led by its guard tandem of Tasha Pointer who had 17 points and seven rebounds and Tomora Young who netted 14 points. Tammy Sutton-Brown grabbed 11 rebounds, while Linda Miles recorded 10 rebounds. Jenea Skeeters was the only Wildcat in double figures with 10 points. Villanova shot just 28.8 percent for the game, while the Scarlet Knights shot 39.6 percent from the field.
TOUGH D: The Villanova/Rutgers game on Saturday features the top two defensive teams in the Big East Conference. Rutgers leads the Big East in scoring defense giving up just 56.0 points per game, while Villanova is second in the conference, yielding 57.9 ppg. Connecticut, who is giving up 62.7 ppg., is third in the league in scoring defense.
HARRY WINS-375: Wednesday nights 61-45 victory over the Pittsburgh Panthers gave Wildcat head coach Harry Perretta his 375th career win. Currently in his 21st season on the Main Line, Perretta has recorded a 375-216 overall mark and a 165-124 record in Big East Conference games. Perrettas record is even more impressive when you consider that he is just 43 years of age.
FAST PACE: If you showed up late for Villanovas 7 p.m. contest Wednesday night at Pittsburgh, there is a good chance that you missed a lot of the game. The first half lasted just 28 total minutes and the game was over at approximately 8:20 p.m. For the game, Villanova was called for just five fouls, while Pittsburgh was whistled for nine fouls. Villanova shot seven free throws in the contest, while the Panthers had just one free throw attempt.
BECOMING-OFFENSIVE: Senior point guard Shanette Lee has been one of Villanovas top scorers the last three games, where she has scored 36 points in that span for an average of 12.0 ppg. Also, in the last three games, Lee is 16-for-31 (51.6%) from the field. These totals are up from Lees season averages of 6.9 ppg. and her 34.8 field goal percent shooting. She has reached double figures in points three times this year, with two of the three occasions coming in the last three games versus Providence (career-high 18 points) and Miami (10 points). Lees other double figure scoring game came in the season opener at Pennsylvania where she scored a team-high 14 points. For the season, Lee is averaging 6.9 ppg., 3.7 rpg., a team-leading 4.7 apg., and a team-best 1.3 spg.
CLOSING IN: Senior point guard Shanette Lee is on pace to become the all-time assist leader in Villanova womens basketball history. Entering play versus Rutgers, Lee has tallied 481 career assists which ranks her fourth on Villanovas all-time assist list. With five more assists, she will move ahead of Shelly Pennefather into third place on Villanovas all-time assist chart. For the season, the Philadelphia, Pa., native has 84 assists which ranks her fifth in the Big East. She is just 40 assists short of Lynn Tighes all-time career best of 521 assists. Tighe is currently Villanovas Senior Womens Administrator.
NAME YEARS GAMES ASSISTS1. Lynn Tighe 1983-87 119 5212. Kathie Beisel 1979-83 114 5073. Shelly Pennefather 1983-87 117 4854. Shanette Lee 1995-99 103 4815. Nancy Bernhardt 1980-84 119 465
COMMITTING-THEFT: The Villanova defense has been tallying big numbers in the steal department as of late. On Saturday, Jan. 23 versus Miami, the Wildcats recorded 12 steals in the 56-54 win and last Wednesday at Pittsburgh, Villanova tallied eight steals giving them a total of 20 in the last two games. Junior Jenea Skeeters has led the charge in the steal department by accounting for eight of the 20 steals.
SKEETERS TIES CAREER-HIGHS: Junior forward Jenea Skeeters played an all-around superb game last Wednesday versus the Pittsburgh Panthers. The Mishawaka, Ind. native scored 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting and tied two career-highs with five steals and four assists. She also pulled-down four rebounds. Skeeters has been playing exceptional defense this season for the Wildcats. In the last two games, she has registered eight steals with three against Miami and the five versus Pittsburgh.
SKEETERS ON-THE-RISE: Over the last 11 games, Villanovas most consistent performer has been junior forward Jenea Skeeters. During this 11-game span, Skeeters has reached double figures in points on 10 occasions and is averaging 12.8 ppg. during this stretch. From the field in the last 11 contests, Skeeters is 58-of-124 for a 46.7 percent rate. In the past 11 games, she has had a game-high in points two times and a team-high five times. For the year, she is averaging 10.5 ppg., (second on team), 4.4 rpg. (second on team), 2.3 apg. and 1.1 spg. (second on team) In just Big East games, Skeeters is the teams leading scorer with a 12.0 ppg. average.
INDIANA-DUO: Villanova gets a great deal of production from its Indiana forward duo of Jenn Sliwa and Jenea Skeeters. Sliwa, a native of Valparaiso, Ind. is averaging 8.0 ppg., 3.4 rpg., and 2.2 apg., in 25.5 minutes of action, while Skeeters, a native of Mishawaka, Ind., is averaging 10.5 ppg., 4.4 rpg., 2.3 apg, and 1.1 spg in 31.3 minutes of action. The duo are also two of the teams top defenders. Sliwa and Skeeters are also neck and neck on the all-time Villanova scoring chart, as just one point separates the two Hoosier state natives. A fifth year senior, Sliwa has 839 points in 99 career games, while the junior Skeeters has scored 838 career points in 75 career contests. Sliwa and Skeeters currently rank 20th and 21st on the Villanova all-time scoring list.
LEADING THE-WAY: Villanova is led offensively by sophomore center Brandi Barnes who leads the team in scoring (11.6 ppg.), rebounds (6.3 rpg.), field goal percentage (93-for-186 for 509%) and blocked shots (15). She is currently 12th in the Big East in field goal percentage. For the season, Barnes has scored in double figures in 13 of Villanovas 18 games. Barnes sat out last season after transferring from the University of Maryland.
CONTROLLING-THE-BACKBOARD: Brandi Barnes has been a dominant rebounder the past four games, where she has grabbed 30 rebounds for an average of 7.5 rpg in that span. Her 6.3 season rebound average ranks her 15th in the Big East Conference.
BEHIND-THE-ARC: Sophomore guard Lauren Pellicane has emerged as one of the top three-point shooters in the Big East Conference. Entering play versus Rutgers, Pellicane is 43-of-118 (36.4 %) from three-point range. The 43 triples ranks her third in the Big East Conference in three-point field goals. All total, Pellicane has made 51 field goals with 43 coming from behind the arc. For the season, she is averaging 8.6 ppg., 1.9 rpg. and 2.6 apg in a team-leading 32.8 minutes of action. Pellicane replaced graduated senior Jenny Higgins at the two-guard this season. Last season, Higgins led the country with 100 three-point field goals.
DEFENSE: Strong defense has always been a trademark of Harry Perretta coached teams. Dating back to the 1994-95 campaign, Villanova has never given up more than 60 points per game in a season. After 18 games this year, Villanova is yielding just 57.9 ppg. and have held five opponents under 50 points and 11 opponents under 60 points. The Wildcats are currently second in the Big East in scoring defense. Last season, the Wildcats held their opponents to just 56.4 ppg, which led the Big East Conference and ranked sixth nationally. In 17 of the teams 19 wins in 1997-98, Villanova held its opponents under 60 points and they held seven teams under 50 points.
MAGIC 60: In the last three seasons, Villanova is 36-5 when holding opponents under 60 points. Thus far this year, Villanova is 7-3 when keeping the opponent under 60 points. Last season, the Cats were 17-2 when holding the opposition under 60 points, while in 1996-97, Villanova was a perfect 11-0 when keeping the opponent under 60 points. Also last season, the Wildcats were 14-4 when recording 60 or more points.
THE GOOD-HANDS PEOPLE: Traditionally, under the direction of head coach Harry Perretta, the Villanova Wildcats have always done a good job of taking care of the basketball and this years Villanova team is no different. After 18 games, the Cats have committed 236 turnovers for an average of 13.1 per game which leads the Big East Conference in fewest turnovers. In their last game at Pittsburgh, Villanova had just 10 turnovers. The teams season low this season was five against the LaSalle Explorers. Villanova has had 10 or less turnovers five times this season. In Perrettas 21 years as the Wildcats head coach, Villanova has never averaged more than 15 turnovers a game in one season.
CLOSE CALLS: You would be hard pressed to find a team who has suffered more heartbreaking losses than the Villanova Wildcats this season. Of the teams nine losses, two have been by one point, two have been in overtime and a fifth was a three-point setback. Of the two one point losses, one came at No. 7 Notre Dame 62-61, while the three-point loss came against then No. 13 Florida. In the Florida contest, the Wildcats led 49-40 with 4:50 left in the game, but did not score the rest of the game and lost 52-49. Thus far this year, Villanova has played five teams who are ranked in the top 25 and are 0-5 in those games.
WEARING-RED: Three members of the 1998-99 Villanova team will redshirt this season. Megan Stewart, a junior from Maroochydore, Australia, will travel to Germany during the second semester to study and master a second language. She will have two years of eligibility remaining when she returns to action next season. Both freshmen on the roster, Nicole Druckenmiller and Daniela Schroeder, are redshirting the 1998-99 season. Druckenmiller is the younger sister of San Francisco 49er quarterback Jim Druckenmiller.
BACK TO-ACTION: Last season, three Villanova Wildcats redshirted the 1997-98 season. All three, including Lauren Pellicane, Stephanie Baker and Therese Pennefather are currently on the 1998-99 active roster. Pellicane, a redshirt sophomore, is currently the teams starting two-guard and is averaging 8.6 ppg., 1.9 rpg and 2.6 apg. She also has made a team-best 43 three-point field goals. Baker, a redshirt freshman, came to Villanova with some lofty credentials after being named to the 1997 Parade Magazine All-American third team. She is currently averaging 3.4 ppg., and 3.2 rpg. in 12.9 mpg. Pennefather, also a redshirt freshman, will help add depth in the Villanova backcourt.
VILLANOVA BY THE NUMBERS:
RECORDS...Overall 9-9 Home 6-3Away 3-5Neutral 0-1Big East 5-5Big East Road Games 2-3Big East Home Games 3-2Big 5 3-1
WILDCATS RECORD WHEN...Leading at Halftime 9-2Trailing at Halftime 0-6Tied at Halftime 1-0In Overtime 0-1 When Shooting 45% or better 4-0When Scoring 60 or more points 6-3VILLANOVA TEAM HIGHS...Points 92 vs. TempleFirst Half Points 47 vs. TempleSecond Half Points 45 vs. TempleField Goal Percentage 57.6 vs. TempleField Goals 34 vs. Temple3-Point Field Goals Made 11 vs. Temple3-Point Field Goals Att. 28 vs. UMESFree Throws Attempted 26 vs. TempleFree Throws Made 13 vs. Temple/UMES/Prov.Assists 27 vs. TempleTurnovers 22 vs. FloridaSteals 12 vs. MiamiBlocked Shots 7 vs. Temple
VILLANOVA TEAM LOWS...Points 40 vs. RutgersFirst Half Points 13 vs. UConnSecond Half Points 18 vs. RutgersField Goal Percentage 27.1 vs. UMESField Goals 16 vs. UConn3-Point Field Goal Made 1 vs. UConn3-Point Field Goals Att. 9 vs. St. Josephs/UConnFree Throws Att. 4 vs. Duke/RutgersFree Throws Made 1 vs. FloridaAssists 9 vs. UConnTurnovers 5 vs. LaSalleSteals 2 vs. ProvidenceBlocked Shots 0 vs. Florida/Miami
