Dec. 2, 2000
Box Score
Villanova, Pa. - On Saturday, December 2, Villanova women's basketball head coach Harry Perretta earned his 400th career victory as his Wildcats defeated Big Five rival Temple University, 60-55. With the victory Villanova improves to 5-1 overall, while Temple falls to 3-1. Villanova's 5-1 start is their best since 1986-87, when the Wildcats started 6-1.
During the course of his 23 years on the Main Line, Perretta has accumulated a 400-237 record. Included in that mark is 22 victories that have come at the expense of Temple. Perretta and his Wildcats have now defeated Temple 12 consecutive times.
In the game's first half Villanova took control early by taking a commanding 26-10 lead. The Wildcats early offensive explosion was paced by junior guard Mimi Riley, who tallied eight points. After a TV timeout with 7:50 remaining in the half, Temple responded. The Owls offense came to life ending the opening stanza with a 13-3 run that narrowed the Wildcats advantage to 29-23.
Riley and Nicole Druckenmiller led the Villanova offense scoring eight points each. Brandi Barnes was dominating down low grabbing three rebounds and recording four points. For Temple, Lisa Jakubowicz had seven points, while junior Athena Christoforakis came off the bench for nine.
The second half started well for Villanova as sophomore forward Katie Davis drilled a three-point field goal to stretch Villanova's lead to nine, 32-23. Again, Temple was not deterred. The Owls rallied behind the play of Jakubowicz. The Owls center scored five of the next nine points and handed out an assist to bring the game to a 32-32 tie with 16:13 remaining.
Villanova struggled early and often in the second half from long range. The Wildcats opened the second half one of five from three-point range. Their struggles forced the offense inside and Barnes responded by scoring four of the Wildcats next six points.
Leading 38-34, Villanova tried again to get their outside shooting hot. Trish Juhline took her try from deep and caught fire. The sophomore standout hit three of four from behind the three-point arc to extend the lead to nine, 50-41.
Temple fought back to bring the score within five with 1:44 left in regulation. Villanova would not allow them any closer as Riley, Juhline and Druckenmiller combined to shoot five of eight from the free-throw line to seal the victory, 60-55.
Riley's streak without a turnover came to end, but not after 120 minutes of perfection from the Villanova point guard. Over the course of five games, three entire games, Riley did not allow a turnover. During that same time the junior handed out 25 assists.
Villanova will be in action next at 7PM on Wednesday, December 6, at the University of Notre Dame.
