VILLANOVA, Pa. - Villanova University head women's basketball coach Denise Dillon today announced her first recruiting class as the Wildcats head coach. The five-member class includes Anahi-Lee Cauley (Windsor, Conn./ Kent School/ Bria Holmes Elite AAU), Christina Dalce (Edison, N.J./Rutgers Prep/ Philadelphia Belles AAU), Zanai Jones (Jersey City, N.J./ Hudson Catholic/ Books And Basketball AAU), Lucy Olsen (Royersford, Pa./ Spring-Ford H.S./ Lady Running Rebels AAU) and Kaitlyn Orihel (Newtown, Pa./Archbishop Wood H.S./ Philadelphia Belles AAU).

"We are thrilled to add these five talented student-athletes to the Wildcat Family," said Dillon. "This group has the potential to be a dynamic class for us and we are excited for their future.  All five are versatile performers who have skill sets that fit our style of play. We fully expect all five to have a major impact on our program." 

The five signees will enroll at Villanova in the fall and be members of the 2021-22 Wildcat team.

ANAHI-LEE CAULEY
6-0 ** Guard
Windsor, Conn.
Kent School
Bria Holmes AAU
 
** Averaged 15.2 ppg., and 5.1 rpg., during the 2019-20 season
** Spent her first 3 seasons at Loomis Chaffee High School
** During the 2019-20 season she earned team's MVP award for a squad that made it to the Class A New England Tournament semifinal game
** Earned All-NEPSAC honors in 2019-20. 
 
CHRISTINA DALCE
6-2 ** Forward
Edison, N.J.
Rutgers Prep
Philadelphia Belles AAU
 
** Averaged 14.4 ppg., 10.5 rpg., and 2.5 bpg., during the 2019-20 season
** Somerset County Player of the Year
** Second Team All-State
** First Team Non Public
** BlueStar Tournament MVP
 
ZANAI JONES
5-6 ** Guard
Jersey City, N.J.
Hudson Catholic
Books And Basketball AAU
 
** Averaged 18.7 ppg. and 5.8 rpg. in 2019-20
** Third Team All-State
** Two-Time First Team All-County
** Third Team All-County during freshman season
** New Jersey assist leader during freshman season
** Hudson County Jim Hague Player of the Year
** 1,000 point Scorer
** Hudson Catholic all-time assist leader
** Ranks second in school history in scoring and is 56 points shy from becoming the all-time leading scorer
 
 
LUCY OLSEN
5-9 ** Guard
Royersford, Pa.
Spring-Ford H.S.
Lady Running Rebels AAU
 
** Averaged 18.0 ppg., 6.4 rpg., 3.7 apg., 2.7 spg., and 1.1 bpg.
** 1272 career points
** First Team 6A All-State in 2019-20
** Third Team 6A All-State in 2018-19
** Two-time All-Area Player of the Year
** Three-time First Team Pioneer Athletic Conference honoree
** Second all-time leading scorer in school history
** Tallied the second most points at Spring-Ford High School for a single season with 543 points
** Registered 10+ points in all 30 games and 20+ in 13 games during the 2019-20 season
** Three-time Pioneer Athletic League champion
** Helped lead team to three state playoff appearances, including two trips to the Sweet 16
** Helped guide team to a 72-16 record
** Played 1^st doubles tennis
** PIAA state tennis champion in the fall 2020
 
 
 
 
 
 
KAITLYN ORIHEL
5-10 ** Guard
Newtown, Pa.
Archbishop Wood H.S.
Philadelphia Belles AAU
 
** Averaged 15.1 ppg., and 4.3 rpg.
** Tallied 1,172 career points
** Pennsylvania sportswriters class 5A 2019-20 Player of the Year
** Two-time First Team All-State in 2018-19 and 2019-20
** Three-time First Team All-Philadelphia Catholic League
** Named to the Philadelphia Catholic League All-Decade team by Philly Sports Digest
** Courier Times Player of the Year Golden Team
** Montgomery Reporter/Times Herald Player of the Year  
** All-Intelligencer Player of the Year and first team honoree