WASHINGTON, D.C. – In BIG EAST women's basketball action on Wednesday evening, the Villanova Wildcats traveled to the nation's capital where they tallied a 77-62 win over the Georgetown Hoyas. With the victory, Villanova improves to 8-8 overall and 2-2 in BIG EAST play, while the Hoyas fall to 8-7 on the year and 1-3 in league action.

Villanova started strong racing to an early 13-6 lead. Hot shooting was the key to the quick start, as the Wildcats made five of their first seven shots, including a 3-of-4 effort from three-point range. Grad student guard Maddie Burke led the early charge draining two three-point field goals.

The Wildcats finished the quarter on a 12-4 run to lead 25-10 at the end of the first period. Villanova shot a sizzling 75.0 percent from the field (9-of-12) and 80.0 percent from long distance (4-of-5) in the game's first 10 minutes.

Burke and senior guard Jaliyah Green led Villanova in the first quarter with six points. Kelsey Ransom led the Hoyas scoring eight of her team's 10 points.

Villanova scored the first six points of the third quarter to open-up a 31-10 advantage. The six Wildcat points included two lay-ups by Denae Carter and a pull-up jump shot by Maddie Webber.

Following the opening second quarter surge, Georgetown would not get within 18 in the period and Villanova went to intermission with a 42-22 lead.

Villanova finished the first half connecting on 18-of-27 from the field for 66.7 percent and 4-of-6 from three for 66.7 percent, while Georgetown was 7-of-27 from the floor and 2-of-9 from three. Carter tallied 11 first half points for Villanova, while Green added nine points.

The Wildcats took control of the game over the first five minutes of the third quarter, when Villanova scored 21 points to take a commanding 63-36 lead. Webber led the run with seven points on a three-ball, a pull-up jump shot and a driving lay-up. Burke added a long three and a turnaround jumper in the lane.

Trailing 71-49 after three quarters of play, Georgetown scored the first seven points of the fourth period to make it a 71-56 game with 3:22 to play. Following a bucket by Webber that increased the advantage to 73-56, the Hoyas got a jumper by Ransom and a triple by Modesti McConnell and the lead was down to 12 at 73-61 at the 2:04 mark.

Villanova responded with four straight points on free throws by Bronagh Power-Cassidy and a lay-up by Carter to put the game away.

In the win, Webber led four Wildcats in double figures with 19 points, while Carter finished with 15 points and seven rebounds. Green added 13 points and five rebounds and Burke chipped in with 11 points.

Georgetown was paced by Ransom who poured in a game-high 35 points.

For the game, Villanova shot 55.4 percent from then field (31-of-56), 50.0 percent from three-point range (7-of-14) and 80.0 percent from the free throw line (8-of-10), while Georgetown was 20-of-57 from the floor (35.1%), 5-of-21 from long distance (23.8%) and 17-of-24 from the charity stripe (70.8%). Villanova owned a 39-28 advantage on the backboards.

Villanova returns to action on Saturday afternoon when the Wildcats travel to Milwaukee to take on the Marquette Golden Eagles. Game time is set for 3 p.m., eastern time.