UNCASVILLE, CONN. – In a match-up of Top 10 nationally ranked teams in the BIG EAST championship game on Monday evening, the No. 7 Connecticut Huskies defeated the No. 10 Villanova Wildcats by a score of 67-56. With the loss, the Wildcats fall to 28-6 on the year, while the Huskies improve to 29-5.

Offensive efficiency was the difference in the opening quarter, as the Huskies were 7-of-12 from the field and 1-for-3 from three-point range, while the Wildcats were just 6-of-25 and 0- for-10.

Despite the poor shooting, Villanova trailed by only five at 19-14 after one quarter of play.

After Wildcat senior Maddy Siegrist scored on a turn around jumper in the paint to cut the Connecticut lead to 25-24 with 4:42 to play in the second quarter, the Huskies finished the half on a 9-0 run to lead 34-24 at halftime.

The Huskies shot a sizzling 51.9 percent from the field in the first half with Aaliyah Edwards leading the way with 12 points on 6-of-6 shooting from the field. Villanova was just 10-of-38 from the field for 26.3 percent shooting.

Connecticut started the third quarter on a 20-5 run to open-up a commanding 54-29 advantage. The Huskies would use the spurt to lead 51-39 after three quarters of play.

Trailing 65-44 with 4:50 to play, Villanova went on a 10-2 run to slice the Connecticut lead to 67-54 with 1:16 on the clock. Siegrist tallied six points in the late Wildcat run.

In the loss, Siegrist led the way with 22 point and nine rebounds, while sophomore center Christina Dalce added seven points and 11 rebounds. Senior guard Brooke Mullin also added seven points for Villanova.

Connecticut was paced by Edwards who had 19 points and 15 rebounds. Dorka Juhasz finished with 15 points and Lou Lopez Senechal chipped in with 14.

For the game, Villanova was 21-of-70 from the field (30.0%), 5-of-29 from three-point range (17.2%) and 9-of-14 from the foul line (64.3%), while the Huskies shot 49.1 percent from the floor (27-of-55), 26.7 percent from long distance (4-of-15) and 69.2 percent from the charity stripe (9-of-13).

NOTES: Villanova falls to 3-3 in BIG EAST Championship games…The Wildcats are now 2-7 versus UConn in the Big East Tournament…Maddy Siegrist has scored 20 points or more in all 34 games this year…Siegrist now has 85 career games of 20 points or more…Christina Dalce tallied 28 points and 26 rebounds in the BIG EAST Tournament.