PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Villanova Wildcats rallied from a nine-point fourth quarter deficit to tally a 63-58 overtime win over the Providence College Friars. With the victory, the Wildcats improve to 14-4 overall and 9-4 in BIG EAST play, while Providence falls to 6-12 overall and 4-9 in league action.
 
A lay-up by Chanell Williams gave Providence its biggest lead of the game at 46-37 with 6:15 remaining in regulation. With the Friars on the verge of putting the game away, Villanova responded with a 10-1 run to slice the lead to 48-47 at the 3:47 mark. Sophomore forward Maddy Siegrist led the way in the spurt with six of the 10 points. The other four points included a free throw by freshman Bella Runyan and a three-ball by rookie Lior Garzon.
 
Both teams failed to score on their next possession, before Providence made it a 50-47 game when Williams scored on a short jumper with 2:26 remaining. Villanova responded on the next trip down the court when Siegrist connected on two free throws and the Friars held a 50-49 advantage.  After Friar forward Mary Baskerville split a pair at the line, Garzon misfired on a three and Providence had possession with a 51-49 lead.
 
Providence made it a two possession game at 53-49 with 49 seconds on the clock when Williams scored on a driving lay-up. The Friars came up with a defensive stop and increased the lead to 54-49 with 35 seconds to play when Kyra Spiwak went 1-of-2 from the foul line.  Following a three-ball from Runyan that cut the lead to 54-52, Villanova got the ball back when Runyan blocked a Williams lay-up attempt. As the Wildcats were rushing the ball up the court looking for the tying basket, Garzon turned the ball  over to the Friars. With only 13 seconds to play, Villanova was forced to foul Williams.
 
Williams missed the first and made the second to give her team a 55-52 lead. Following a timeout to advance the ball to the front court, the Wildcats got the ball into the hands of Siegrist who drained a deep three to tie the game at 55-55 and send the game into overtime.
 
The Wildcats drew first blood in the extra session when Siegrist scored on a lay-up. After Spiwak made 1-of-2 from the line to make it a 57-56 game, Wildcat senior forward Brianna Herlihy scored on a driving lay-up to put the Wildcats up 59-56 with 2:09 to go. Neither team was able to score for the next 1:46, before Villanova sophomore guard Brooke Mullin was fouled with 23 seconds left. Mullin made the first, but missed the second and Villanova was up 60-56. Siegrist would make 3-of-4 from the line over the last 10 seconds to seal the win for the Wildcats.
 
Siegrist led the way in the victory with 24 points and seven rebounds, while Runyan came off the bench to register 11 points, five rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Herlihy added seven points and a game-high tying 12 rebounds.
 
Providence was paced by Baskerville who had a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Alyssa Geary tallied 11 points. Spiwak was the third Friar in double figures with 10 points.
 
For the game, Villanova was 23-of-64 from the field (35.9%), 6-of-29 from three-point range (20.7%) and 11-of-16 from the foul line (68.8%), while Providence shot 37.7 percent from the floor (23-of-61), 27.3 percent from long distance (3-of-11) and 50.0 percent from the charity stripe (9-of-18). The Wildcats owned a 49-38 advantage on the backboards.
 
Villanova is scheduled to return to action on Saturday, Feb. 27, when the Seton Hall Pirates visit the Finneran Pavilion. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m.
 
NOTES: Villanova has now won 30 of the last 36 meetings over Providence…The Wildcats improve to 7-2 in road games this season…Dating back to last year, Villanova has won five straight overtime games, including 2-0 this year…Today was the 12^th, 20-point game of the season for Maddy Siegrist.