VILLANOVA, PA – In women's basketball action on Monday night at the Finneran Pavilion, the Villanova Wildcats lost a hard fought 61-58 decision to the Princeton Tigers. With the loss, Villanova falls to 6-4 on the year, while Princeton improves to 7-3.

After a back and forth start to the game, Villanova finished the first quarter on a 10-5 run to lead 22-16 after one period. The junior tandem of Lucy Olsen and Christina Dalce led the way in the game's first 10 minutes with Olsen scoring 10 points and Dalce adding seven points. 

Princeton started the second quarter on a 10-2 run to take a 26-24 lead. Following a Wildcat timeout to slow the Tiger momentum, Villanova went on an 11-4 spurt to take a 35-30 lead at halftime.

Olsen, who sat out most of the second quarter due to foul trouble, went scoreless in the second quarter and finished with 10 first half points. Dalce had nine points and six rebounds in the opening half, while freshman Maddie Webber added nine points.

The Wildcats shot 46.9 percent from the field in the first half (15-of-32), while Princeton was 11-of-32 for 34.4 percent.

Villanova led 50-49 with 7:09 to play in the fourth quarter, when Zanai Jones and Dalce scored back-to-back field goals to increase the Wildcat advantage to 54-49. Princeton went scoreless for 3:20, before Tiger star guard Kaitlyn Chen buried a deep three and scored on a driving lay-up to tie the game at 54-54 with 3:55 remaining.

Each team failed to score on its next possession, before Olsen made a floater in the lane and Villanova led 56-54. The advantage was short lived, as the Tigers took the lead for good when Chen scored on a lay-up and was fouled. The conventional three-point play gave Princeton a 57-56 lead at the 2:01 mark.

Villanova missed three shots on the next two possessions and the Wildcats were forced to foul Princeton's Ellie Mitchell with 13 seconds on the clock. Mitchell made the first and missed the second. However, the Tigers were able to get the offensive rebound off the missed free throw and Chet Nweke was sent to the line with 11.9 seconds to go. Nweke made one of two and Princeton held a 59-56 advantage.

The Wildcats called timeout and advanced the ball to the front court. Out of the time out, Olsen got off a deep three that was short. The Tigers grabbed the rebound, but turned it over to the Wildcats and Villanova had life with 5.6 seconds to play. Olsen got the ball on the right wing and attempted a three-point field goal. The shot was off target, but she was fouled and given three foul shots with 2.1 seconds to go. Olsen missed the first and made the next two and Villanova trailed 59-58.

Princeton took timeout and advanced the ball where they put the game away when Skye Belker made two free throws.
In the loss, Olsen had 21 points, five rebounds and four assists, while Dalce finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Webber added nine points off the bench.
Princeton was paced by Chen who had a game-high 31 points. Belker and Madison St. Rose tallied 12 points, while Mitchell pulled-down a game-best 19 rebounds.
For the game, Villanova was 24-of-61 from the field (39.3%), 5-of-16 from three (31.3%) and 5-of-7 from the foul line (71.4%), while the Tigers shot 34.9 percent from the floor (22-of-63), 31.3 percent from behind the arc (5-of-16) and 80.0 percent from the charity stripe (12-of-15). Princeton owned a 44-30 advantage on the backboards. 

Villanova is set to open BIG EAST Conference play on Saturday night with a game against St. John's at Madison Square Garden. Tip time is set for 6 p.m.

NOTES: Villanova falls to 70-13 all-time versus Ivy League competition…The Wildcats are now 4-1 at home this season…Christina Dalce has posted a double-double in four of the last five games…Villanova had 36 points in the paint…The Wildcat bench outscored the Princeton reserves by an 11-1 margin.