Jan. 18, 2000

Villanova Wildcats
(9-5 Overall/ 2-1 Big East)
at
Syracuse Orangewomen
( 7-7 Overall/ 0-3 Big East)

January 19, 2000 ? 7:00 p.m.
Syracuse, N.Y.
Manley Field House

Series Information:

Series Record: VU leads 28-9
Last VU Win: Feb. 20, 1999, 68-51
Last SU Win: Jan. 10, 1999, 81-59
STREAK: VU has won 7 of last 8

Villanova Head Coach

Harry Perretta is in his 22nd year as the head coach of the Villanova women?s basketball program. In his tenure at Villanova, Perretta has recorded a 389-226 mark. Against Big East Competition, Perretta has registered a 169-129 record.

During his career at Villanova, Perretta has guided the Wildcats to three NCAA Tournament appearances, two Big East Tournament Championships and eight Philadelphia Big Five titles. In 1981-82, he led the Wildcats to the AIAW Final Four. Perretta, who is the all-time winningest coach in Villanova women?s basketball history, is just 11 wins shy of 400 career victories.

Syracuse Head Coach

Syracuse is led seventh-year head coach Marianna Freeman. In her tenure at Syracuse, Freeman has guided the Orangewomen to a 61-117 record. Before arriving at Syracuse, Freeman was the top assistant at the University of Iowa under current Rutgers mentor Vivian Stringer. Freeman?s first head coaching position came at Delaware State (1981-83) where she tallied a 21-27 mark. Freeman is a 1979 graduate of Cheyney State University where she played for Vivian Stringer. Her eight-year overall coaching record currently stands at 82-144.

Villanova Probable Starters

Villanova Off the Bench

Syracuse Probable Starters

Syracuse Off the Bench

Big East Regular Season Standings (as of 1/17/00)

LAST TIME OUT:

Villanova-- Trish Juhline could barely hear herself think over the racket from the 6,362 Rutgers fans as she stood at the foul line with 17.2 seconds left in overtime. But the noise hardly affected her aim as the Villanova freshman made two free throws to give the Wildcats a 66-65 upset of No. 9 Rutgers on Saturday night.

Villanova (9-5, 2-1 Big East) went the final five minutes of regulation and all of the five-minute overtime without scoring a basket, but scored 19 points from the foul line during that span to shock the Scarlet Knights. Rutgers (11-3, 4-1) had a chance to win the game in the final seconds, but Tasha Pointer twice had driving shots bounce off the rim.

"It was so loud I couldn't hear at the end," Villanova coach Harry Perretta said. "But Trish has played under this kind of pressure all her life. She's accustomed to the noise."

"I just tried to concentrate," Juhline said. "I just wanted to make them, and I'm glad I did."

Villanova was 24-for-30 from the foul line, including 17-for-22 in the second half and the overtime period. The Villanova victory ended Rutgers' eight-game winning streak. It was also Rutgers' first loss on its home floor in 10 games dating back to last season.

Jenea Skeeters led Villanova with 24 points. Juhline had 14 and Brandi Barnes 11. Shawnetta Stewart led the Scarlet Knights with 23 and Pointer had 16.

Stewart's 3-pointer with seven seconds left in regulation tied it. Stewart and Pointer opened the overtime with baskets to put Rutgers ahead 64-60. Katie Davis hit four foul shots as Villanova closed to 65-64 with 1:56 left. Villanova got the ball with 17.2 seconds left and Juhline was fouled on the inbounds pass, making both shots. Pointer missed a driving shot with six seconds to play and also missed from inside the lane with one second left.

SYRACUSE-- The Orangewomen are coming off a 71-56 road loss at Notre Dame on Saturday, Jan. 15. Syracuse trailed just 32-30 at halftime, before the Irish started the second half on a 15-3 run. Notre Dame would outscore Syracuse, 39-26, in the second half. Syracuse was led in the game by Beth Record who had 13 points on 4-of-8 shooting, while Jakia Ervin tallied 12 points and Shannon Perry added 11. Notre Dame was paced by Niele Ivey who registered 22 points including six three-point field goals and Ruth Riley who netted 15 points. For the game, Notre Dame shot 45.5 percent from the floor, while the Orangewomen shot 44.7 percent from the field.

SKEETERS EARNS BIG EAST HONORS: For her efforts last week, senior forward Jenea Skeeters was named the Big East Conference Co-Player of the Week. In wins over Pennsylvania and No. 9 Rutgers, Skeeters averaged 20.5 ppg., and shot .667 (12-of-18) from the field. Against Pennsylvania on Thursday, Jan. 13, she was 5-of-8 from the field for 17 points to go with five assists and four rebounds. In the overtime win at Rutgers, Skeeters played all 45 minutes and made 7-of-12 from the floor and 9-of-12 from the foul line for a game-high 24 points. This is the first time in her career that Skeeters has earned conference player of the week honors. As a freshman in 1996-97, she was named Big East Rookie of the Week on four occasions.

ENDURANCE TEST: In Villanova?s 66-65 overtime win at No. 9 Rutgers on Saturday, January 15, four Wildcats played 40 or more minutes led by senior forward Jenea Skeeters who played every second of the 45 minute contest. Also tallying 40+ minutes were guards Lauren Pellicane and Trish Juhline who played 42 minutes apiece and center Brandi Barnes who logged 40 minutes.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE FOR DAVIS: Villanova freshman forward Katie Davis recorded the first double-double of her career in Villanova?s 66-65 overtime win at Rutgers on Saturday, Jan.15. In the win, Davis played 26 minutes, scoring 10 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Her effort against Rutgers was Davis? second outstanding performance of the week. On Thursday, Jan. 13 at The Pavilion, Davis helped lead the Wildcats to an 85-76 win over Pennsylvania by tallying a team-high 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting (4-of-6 from three-point range) to go with seven rebounds, four assists and a career-best four steals. Davis has started four of the last five games and is averaging 6.9 ppg., 4.9 rpg., 1.7 apg., and 1.1 spg for the year.

COOL UNDER PRESSURE: By watching freshmen Katie Davis and Trish Juhline play at No. 9 Rutgers last Saturday in front of 6,362 screaming Scarlet Knight fans, you would never guess that the duo is in their first season of college basketball. In 26 minutes, Davis made 2-of-3 from the field, 6-of-8 from the foul line for 10 points, in addition to grabbing 10 rebounds. Juhline played 42 minutes in the overtime win and scored 14 points in addition to tallying four rebounds, three assists and one steal. The most impressive stat about the rookies? performance was the two combined to hit 10-straight free throws from the 1:00 minute mark of regulation through overtime. In overtime, Juhline gave Villanova the lead for good when she converted on two free throws with 17 seconds left in the extra period. Villanova?s other four points in the extra period came on four Davis free throws.

SKEETERS SCORES 24: Offensively, the Villanova Wildcats were led by senior forward Jenea Skeeters 24 points in the upset win at Rutgers on Jan. 15. Skeeters played all 45 minutes of the overtime thriller and connected on 7-of-12 from the field, 1-of-2 from behind the arc and 9-of-12 from the charity stripe. This is the third time this year that she has tallied 20 or more points in a game (21 vs. Nevada/29 vs. Temple). For the year, Skeeters leads Villanova in scoring with a 14.6 ppg. average. In addition, she is averaging 4.8 rpg., 2.7 apg., and 0.9 spg.

SKEETERS STARS: Villanova has been led all year long by senior forward Jenea Skeeters. Entering play at Syracuse, Skeeters has scored in double figures in 11 of her last 12 games. In those 12 contests, Skeeters has been especially effective from the field, connecting on 52-of-97 (53.6 percent) from the floor in that span. The only game she did not amass double figures in her past 12 outings came on Saturday, Jan. 8 when she was held without a point in Villanova?s 63-41 win over Providence.

VILLANOVA 1,000 POINT SCORERS

ON A HOT STREAK: Junior center Brandi Barnes has played exceptionally well in Villanova?s last five games. In the five-game stretch, Barnes has helped the Wildcats to five consecutive wins by connecting on 34-of-59 (57.6 percent) from the floor for 78 points (15.6 ppg). In addition, Barnes has pulled-down 37 rebounds in the last five games for an average of 7.5 rpg. For the year, she is averaging 10.2 ppg., and a team-high 6.2 rpg.

1999-2000 DOUBLE-DOUBLES:

RILEY LOST FOR THE SEASON: Junior guard Mimi Riley will miss the remainder of the 1999-2000 season due to left foot injury. Following the season, Riley will apply for a medical hardship. If granted the hardship, she will have two years of eligibility remaining with the 2000-2001 season. Riley suffered the injury in Villanova?s final exhibition game on Nov. 16. The injury forced her to miss the team?s first six games. She returned to the line-up on Dec. 8 when she came off the bench at Boston College to tally four points and four rebounds in 17 minutes of action. Riley also saw playing time in Villanova?s next two games, logging 22 minutes versus St. Joseph?s on Dec. 11 and 17 minutes against George Washington on Dec. 13. The injury has failed to heal properly and the discomfort forced Riley to miss both games in the PNC Bank Wildcat Christmas Classic on Dec. 29-30 and the Providence contest on Jan. 8.

BEHIND THE ARC: After 14 games, Villanova has already attempted 307 three-point field goals, compared to its opponents who have tried 146 shots from behind the arc. The Wildcats are 99-of-307 for 32.2 percent, while their opponents are 43-of-146 for 29.5 percent. Villanova has had seven different players make at least five triples this season.

CAPTAINS: Serving as team captains in 1999-2000 will be senior guard Mary Beth Snell and senior forward Jenea Skeeters.

A NEW ROLE: After playing point guard for head coach Harry Perretta and the Wildcats the last four seasons, Shanette Lee has exchanged her uniform for a clipboard, as Lee will now serve as Perretta?s third assistant. Lee had a stellar four years on the Main Line, finishing her career as the program?s all-time assist leader with 526.

VILLANOVA SEASON-HIGH SUPERLATIVES

VILLANOVA BY THE NUMBERS:

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