Dec. 6, 2000

Box Score

By MICHAEL MAROT
AP Sports Writer

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Ruth Riley had 14 points and 10 rebounds as No. 4 Notre Dame beat Villanova 64-33 on Wednesday night to improve to 7-0 for the first time in school history.

Notre Dame, which extended its school-record home winning streak to 26 games, allowed the second fewest points in a game in school history. Notre Dame set record in a 68-25 victory over Grace on Jan. 31, 1978.

Ericka Haney added 11 points and 10 assists for the Irish in the Big East opener for both teams.

Villanova (5-2) struggled miserably from the floor, making just 20.3 percent of their shots.

And it was that way from the start, when Villanova opened the game by missing nine straight shots as Notre Dame took a 15-0 lead.

Villanova finally scored - at the 13:23 mark - when Katie Davis banked in a 19-footer.

The Wildcats shooting was so bad that until Brandi Barnes made in a layup with 5:47 left in the half, three Irish players - Riley, Haney and Alicia Ratay - each had more baskets than the Wildcats.

Notre Dame, which led 32-19 at halftime, scored the first 10 points of the second half.

Barnes led Villanova with eight points.

Notre Dame will face No. 6 Purdue at home Saturday.