The Wildcats return home on Friday, Jan. 10, to host the Butler Bulldogs in a Big East contest. Villanova enters play with an 8-6 overall record and a 3-1 Big East Conference mark, while Butler is 9-5 overall and 1-2 in conference play. Tip-off at the Finneran Pavilion is set for 11:30 a.m.
 
The reason for the 11:30 a.m., start for Friday's game is due to the Education Day program that the Villanova women's basketball program is hosting. Villanova is bringing over 3,500 grade school students from various local schools for the event. The students will listen to featured speakers on various topics, including health & wellness, the importance of education and leadership. Following the educational portion of the day, the students will stay for the game between the Wildcats and Bulldogs.
 
Two Wildcats were honored by the BIG EAST on Monday, Jan. 6, for their play in three games last week. Redshirt freshman Maddy Siegrist was named the BIG EAST Rookie of the Week for the sixth time this year, while senior forward Mary Gedaka earned a spot on the Weekly Honor Roll. In the three games versus Creighton, Seton Hall and St. John's, Siegrist averaged a double-double of 16.3 points per game and 11.0 rebounds per contest, while Gedaka averaged 19.6 points per game and 6.0 rebounds per contest. 
 
In Sunday's win at St. John's, the Wildcats had two players score 20 or more points, as Siegrist had a game-high 22 points and Gedaka added 21 points. This is the second time this year that the duo has each tallied 20 points in the same contest. In a game at Fordham on Nov. 17, Siegrist scored 29 and Gedaka had 27.  
 
Siegrist is coming off the best rebounding performance of her young career. In last Sunday's win over St. John's, Siegrist pulled-down a career-high 15 rebounds. This was her fifth double figure rebounding game of the season. After 14 games, she is averaging 8.7 rebounds per contest which ranks second in the Big East Conference.
 
For the 16th time in her Villanova career and second consecutive outing, Gedaka tallied a 20-point game in Sunday's win at St. John's. Her 21 points came on 10-of-23 shooting (1-of-7 from three) and she scored 19 of the 21 points in the second half and overtime. This was also her 66th career double figure scoring game.  
 
Villanova is led in scoring and rebounding by Siegrist who is averaging 20.6 points per game and 8.7 rebounds per contest. Gedaka is second on the team in scoring with a 17.5 points per contest average, while junior Cameron Onken is second in rebounding at 6.5 per game.