Jan. 3, 2002

Box Score

VILLANOVA, PA. - In the Big East Conference opener for the Villanova women's basketball team on Thursday night, Jan. 3, at The Pavilion, the Wildcats got a career-high 20 points from sophomore forward Courtney Mix en route to a 59-44 victory over the visiting West Virginia Mountaineers. The victory, Villanova's first win in a Big East opener since 1996-97, improved the `Cats' record to 7-4 overall on the season and 1-0 in conference play. The Mountaineers fell to 7-5 overall and 0-1 in Big East action with the loss.

With Villanova holding a 13-10 lead at the 11:06 mark of the first half, the Wildcats outscored West Virginia 16-3 the rest of the way to take a 29-13 advantage into intermission. Leading the Villanova run was Mix, who scored 10 points during that stretch.

The Wildcats shot only 38.5 percent (10-of-26) in the first half, but got 11 points, six boards, two assists, two blocks and two steals from Mix to take a commanding halftime lead. Guard Kate Bulger had five points for the Mountaineers in the first half, but West Virginia shot only 25 percent (five-for-20) and was forced into turning the ball over nine times.

Villanova remained in control early in the second half, taking its lead to as much as 21 points, 36-15, with 16:32 left in the contest. The Mountaineers would get as close as 12 points twice in the second half, but the Wildcats shot five-for-six from the free throw line down the stretch, including a four-for-four effort by junior forward Katie Davis, to coast to a 59-44 victory.

For the game, Mix finished with a career-high 20 points, shooting six-of-nine from the field and eight-of-12 from the foul line. She also recorded eight rebounds, three blocks, two assists and two steals. Two other players also scored in double figures for Villanova. Davis had 12 points on three-of-eight shooting, and added five rebounds and three steals. Senior guard Mimi Riley scored 11 points for the Wildcats and dished out a game-high four assists.

Winding down the Villanova scoring was sophomore forward Kelly Nash with six points (2-of-6 on 3-pt FG), junior forward Nicole Druckenmiller had five, freshman guard Jennifer Hilgenberg with three points and freshman center Jana Rediger with two points.

For West Virginia in the loss, Bulger tallied 14 points on five-of-12 shooting, to go along with three rebounds. Philadelphia native Brandi Batch scored six points and had three boards in the contest, but fouled out after only 20 minutes of work.

Villanova will get back into action on Sunday, Jan. 6, traveling to St. John's to face the Red Storm at 2:00 p.m.