PHILADELPHIA, PA. – In Big Five women's basketball action on Monday evening, the Villanova Wildcats traveled to The Palestra where they earned a 66-63 win over the Penn Quakers. With the victory, Villanova improves to 2-2 overall and 2-0 in Big 5 play, while Penn falls to 3-1 overall and 0-1 in Big 5 action.
 
The Wildcats led 57-48 with 6:18 to play, when senior forward Brianna Herlihy connected on an old fashion three-point play to take a 60-48 advantage. Penn responded by scoring eight straight points to cut the Villanova lead to 60-56 at the 3:30 mark. Jordan Obi and Mandy McGurk had four points each in the run.
 
After Lior Garzon made a baseline jumper to increase the Villanova lead to 62-56, the Quakers got back-to-back lay-ups by Marianna Papazoglou and McGurk to make it a 62-60 game with 1:59 remaining. On the game's next possession, the Wildcats ran their offensive set to perfection and Garzon drained a three from the top of the key and Villanova led 65-60 with 1:23 left.
 
The Wildcats got a big defensive stop and had possession holding a five-point lead with 53 seconds to play. Villanova ran the clock down, but a Wildcat turnover gave the ball back to the Quakers. Penn took advantage of the miscue and cut the lead to 65-63 with 23 seconds remaining on a triple by Obi.
 
With eight seconds to play, Garzon was fouled and sent to the line for two foul shots. After missing the first, Garzon sank the second and the Wildcats led 66-63. Penn had one last chance to tie the game, but Lizzy Groetsch's three from straight away was off target.     
 
Villanova was led in the win by Garzon who had 21 points and freshman Lucy Olsen who tallied 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting, including a 4-of-5 effort from three-point range. Junior Brooke Mullin had a career-high 11 points to go with four rebounds, four assists and three steals. Herlihy chipped in with nine points and a game-best nine rebounds.
 
Penn was paced by Obi who recorded 24 points and six rebounds, while McGurk had 12 points. Groetsch was the third Quaker in double figures with 10 points.    
 
For the game, Villanova was 24-of-60 from the field (40.0%), 13-of-28 from three-point range (46.4%) and 5-of-7 from the foul line (71.4%), while Penn shot 50.0 percent from the floor (25-of-50), 44.4 percent from long distance (4-of-9) and 75.0 percent from the charity stripe (9-of-12). Penn owned a 33-31 advantage on the backboards. 
 
The Wildcats return to action on Saturday, Nov. 27, when the Temple Owls visit the Finneran Pavilion. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.
 
 
 
1^st QUARTER:
** Villanova led 11-7 at the first media timeout
** Penn outscored Villanova, 6-2, over the final 2:42 to tie the game at 13-13 after one
** The Wildcats made four of their first nine shots, before finishing the quarter making just one of the last 11 shots
** Brooke Mullin led Villanova in the first quarter with six points on two, three-point field goals
** Brianna Herlihy grabbed five first quarter rebounds
 
2^nd QUARTER:
** Lucy Olsen scored 12 second quarter points, including two triples.
** Olsen hit a step back three just before the first half buzzer to send the game to halftime tied at 33-33
** Jordan Obi tallied 12 second quarter points for the Quakers
 
3^rd QUARTER:
** Villanova started the quarter on an 8-0 to open-up a 41-33 lead
** The Wildcats held the Quakers scoreless for the first 4:10 of the quarter
** Lior Garzon tallied 10 third quarter points
** Penn committed eight turnovers in the quarter
 
NOTES: Villanova now leads the all-time series with Penn by a 45-3 count…The Wildcats improve to 26-2 all-time at The Palestra…Villanova is now 124-40 all-time in Philadelphia Big 5 games and have won 35 of the last 41 City Series games…With tonight's win the Wildcats are 67-11 all-time versus Ivy League opponents.