March 14, 2000

WNIT First Round

Villanova Wildcats
(15-14 Overall, 7-9 Big East)
at
Michigan State Spartans
( 17-11 Overall, 8-8 Big Ten)

March 15, 2000
East Lansing, Michigan
Breslin Center
7:00 p.m.

Series Information:
First Meeting

1999-2000 Big East Standings
FINAL Regular Season Standings

Media Information

Interview Requests
All Interview requests should be directed toward Dean Kenefick, Director of Media Relations.

Internet Site
Villanova's recently re-designed web-page can be found at www.villanova.com.

Hotline
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(888) 400-NOVA

Villanova Probable Starters

Villanova Off the Bench

Head Coach Harry Perretta
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 395-235 mark. Against Big East Competition, Perretta has registered a 175-138 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 five wins shy of 400 career victories.

Michigan State Probable Starters

Michigan State Off The Bench

Head Coach Karen Langeland
Coaching has been a passion for MSU coach Karen Langeland for more than 20 years.

As her program enters a new century and she is in her 24th campaign, Langeland's commitment is just as strong as it was when she was named the third head women's basketball coach in school history in 1976.

Along the way, Langeland has built a first-class program dedicated to achieving excellence on the court as well as educating and preparing players for the challenges of tomorrow.

Langeland has helped develop hundreds of student-athletes during her tenure at MSU. They have gone on to careers in education, medicine, law, finance, athletic administration and coaching.

On the court, the dean of Big Ten Conference women's basketball coaches has guided Spartan basketball teams to 374 overall wins, a Big Ten title, three NCAA Tournaments, a Women's National Invitational Tournament appearance, 17 winning seasons and four 20-win campaigns.

In the last four years alone, the Spartans have won a Big Ten title, made two NCAA Tournament appearances and advanced to the quarterfinals of the WNIT.

Team Comparison

SECOND APPEARANCE: Villanova will be making its second-ever appearance in the WNIT. Villanova finished the 1997-98 season with a 19-9 record and were included in the WNIT field. In the 1998 WNIT, Villanova traveled to Penn State where they lost to the Nittany Lions by a score of 68-61. Penn State went on to capture the WNIT championship that season.

POST-SEASON HISTORY: In the program's 31-year history, Villanova has played in 20 post-season games and have tallied a 10-10 mark in those 20 contests. Villanova has played in four different post-season tournaments including the EAIAW, AIAW, NCAA and WNIT. Villanova's 1981-82 team which finished 29-4 advanced to the Final Four of what was then the AIAW, where they lost to Rutgers in the semi-finals before defeating Wayland Baptist in the consolation game. Villanova's record by post-season tournament is as follows.

A NEW FOE: When Villanova and Michigan State meet in the first round of the WNIT on Wednesday, March 15, it will be the first time the two teams have played one another. It will also be the first time that Villanova has played a team from the state of Michigan.

BIG TEN HISTORY: Michigan State will represent just the fourth Big Ten opponent that Villanova has played in the program's history. In 12 previous games against Big Ten opponents, Villanova is just 2-10 (0-1 vs, Illinois, 1-0 vs. Minnesota, 1-9 vs. Penn State)

HARD TO BELIEVE: In Villanova's 75-53 first round win over Providence in the Big East Tournament on Saturday, March 4, the Wildcats set a Big East Tournament record by committing just two turnovers the entire game. In the first half, freshman Trish Juhline was called for a walk, while senior Jenea Skeeters threw the ball away with two minutes left in the game for turnover number two.

DIFFERENT DAY: After setting a Big East Tournament record for fewest turnovers in a game against Providence, the Wildcats came back the next night and established a Big East Tournament record for fewest points in a game with a 61-32 quarterfinal loss to Rutgers. The Wildcats trailed just 22-19 at halftime, but were outscored, 39-13, in the second stanza.

DRUCK ON THE BOARDS: Redshirt freshman Nicole Druckenmiller had a monster game on the boards in Villanova's 61-32 loss to Rutgers in the quarterfinal round of the Big East Tournament. In the loss, Druckenmiller pulled-down a career-high 12 rebounds.

TOP GUN: Villanova has been led in scoring all season long by senior Jenea Skeeters. Entering the WNIT, Skeeters is leading the 'Cats with a 13.6 ppg. average. In addition, she is averaging 4.4 rpg., and a team-best 3.6 apg. (103 total assists). Her 13.6 ppg. average ranks her eighth in the Big East in scoring for overall games. In 29 games this year, the Mishawaka, Ind., native has scored in double figures on 22 occasions.

SIXTH ALL-TIME: Jenea Skeeters will finish her career ranked sixth on the all-time Villanova scoring list. Entering play in the WNIT, Skeeters has tallied 1,382 career points. Skeeters ranks 16th all-time in rebounding with 448 and she rates 18th in assists with 226.

VILLANOVA 1,000 POINT SCORERS

84-STRAIGHT: Entering play versus Michigan State in the WNIT, Villanova has made at least one three-point field goal in 84 consecutive games. The last time the Wildcats failed to connect on a three-point field goal was on Dec. 2, 1997 when they were 0-for-7 from behind the arc in a 67-27 loss at Connecticut.

FANTASTIC FRESHMAN: Freshman Trish Juhline has turned in one of the best freshman seasons in Villanova women's basketball history. After 29 games, Juhline is second on the team in scoring with a 13.1 ppg. average (13th in the Big East) and she leads the Wildcats in three-point field goals made with 65. In just Big East Conference games, Juhline led the Wildcats in scoring with a 14.4 ppg. average. Juhline has scored in double figures in 11 of her last 12 games. She finished the year third in the Big East in three-pointers made in conference games with 42.

KEEPING GOOD COMPANY: With 379 points to her credit, rookie guard Trish Juhline currently ranks second all-time at Villanova for points scored by a freshman. The other six players on the list below combined to earn Big East honors on 14 occasions. In addition, Shelly Pennefather was a three-time Big East Player of the Year and Lisa Angelotti was a one-time conference Player of the Year.

BEHIND THE ARC: To say that the Villanova Wildcats utilize the three-point shot to their advantage is an understatement. After 29 games, Villanova has attempted 637 three-point field goals, compared to its opponents who have tried 293 shots from behind the arc. The Wildcats are 189-of-637 for 29.7 percent, while their opponents are 82-of-293 for 28.0 percent.

MORE FROM DOWNTOWN: Villanova averages 6.5 made three-pointers a game and they attempt 21.9 triples per contest. The 'Cats have had seven different players make at least eight triples this season, including six players who have double figures in three-pointers made. In 29 games this season, Villanova has made double figures in three-pointers four times and they have tallied eight or more triples on 12 occasions.

BIG WINS: Included among Villanova's 15 wins this season were victories over two top 25 teams. On Jan. 15, Villanova tallied a 66-65 overtime win at then No. 9 Rutgers. A month later, the Wildcats upset then No. 18 Boston College at home by a score of 60-59.

THE GOOD HANDS PEOPLE: As is the case with all Harry Perretta coached teams, the Wildcats have done a good job this year of not turning the ball over a lot. After 29 games, Villanova is averaging 12.1 turnovers a game and they have committed 10 or fewer turnovers nine times. Villanova has tallied 20 or more turnovers just once this season when they had 21 at La Salle.

LEARNING THE ROPES: Of the top eight players in head coach Harry Perretta's rotation, three are freshmen and one is a sophomore. Two of the rookies, guard Trish Juhline and forward Katie Davis, are true freshmen, while forward Nicole Druckenmiller is a redshirt freshman. Sophomore center Stephanie Baker comes off the bench. The three freshmen have accounted for 40.9 percent of the team's scoring and they have logged 35.6 percent of the team's minutes played. Juhline, Davis and Druckenmiller rank second, fourth and fifth respectively on the team in scoring.

1999-2000 DOUBLE-DOUBLES:

BOOK SMART: The Villanova women's basketball team has enjoyed a great deal of success in the classroom. During the fall semester, 10 of the team's 15 players recorded a GPA of 3.0 or better. As a whole, the 597 Villanova student-athletes combined to earn a 2.9 GPA this past fall semester.

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE: Two freshmen on the Villanova roster have not played in game action this year and the duo will redshirt. Beginning with the 2000-2001 season, 6-1 forward Jeanine Johnson and 5-10 guard Kelly Nash will have four years of eligibility remaining. Johnson is a native of Lima, Ohio, while Nash hails from Fairfield, Conn.

INJURY BUG: Villanova has been hit hard by injury this season. By Jan. 22, the Wildcats had lost their starting backcourt of junior Lauren Pellicane and Mimi Riley to injury. Together, the duo has cobined to miss 40 games thus far this season.

STREAK ENDS: Junior guard Lauren Pellicane saw her streak of 43-straight games in the starting line-up come to an end when she missed the UConn game on Saturday, Jan. 22. Pellicane missed the match-up with the No. 1 Huskies due to a torn ACL of the right right knee suffered in practice on Thursday, Jan. 20. Pellicane underwent successful surgery on Wednesday, Feb. 16. She is expected to be 100 percent for her senior season in 2000-2001. Pellicane started 15 games this season and averaged 5.5 ppg., 2.5 rpg., and 3.2 apg in 34.3 minutes per contest. In addition, she made 18 three-point field goals. As a sophomore last year, Pellicane averaged 9.0 ppg., and finished second in the Big East Conference in three-point field goals made with 69.

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 the remainder of the season.

VILLANOVA SEASON-HIGH SUPERLATIVES

VILLANOVA BY THE NUMBERS

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