Balanced Attack Leads Wildcats Past Fairfield 61-46 :: Suez-Karni leads four in double figures with 17 points

Jan. 3, 2006

VILLANOVA, Pa. - Four different players scored in double figures and Villanova (9-3) held visiting Fairfield (5-6) to just 26 percent shooting in a 61-46 victory on Tuesday night at The Pavilion. The Wildcats received a game-high 17 points from senior forward Liad Suez (Even-Yehuda, Israel) and wrapped up their regular-season non-conference schedule with the squad's fourth win in the last five games.

Villanova never led by fewer than six points in the decisive second half, and used six free throws to end the game on a 10-3 run that stretched what had been an eight-point lead (51-43) with 4:40 remaining. The Stags were held to just one field goal and six points in the final seven minutes of the game, a stretch in which they missed nine of 10 field goals and five free throws.

Suez-Karni was 6-of-13 from the floor and added eight rebounds, three assists and two blocks for the evening. She was joined in double figures by senior guard Jenna Viani (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.), who had another strong outing with 16 points, six assists and three rebounds. Junior forward Jackie Adamshick (Allentown, Pa.) added 12 points and senior center Kate Dessart Mager (Media, Pa.) had 10 points, eight boards and three steals.

Meka Werts was the lone Fairfield player in double figures with 10 points. The Stags connected on just 15-of-57 (26.3 percent) shooting for the game and were without a field goal for over six minutes after starting the game with the evening's first basket.

A three-pointer by Suez-Karni with 12:47 remaining in the opening period put the Wildcats ahead to stay and the team's leading scorer eventually scored six points in an 11-5 spurt that forged a 31-23 lead at halftime.

The Wildcats will play 15 straight Big East contests to wrap up the regular season, beginning this Saturday with a 1 p.m. road contest against league newcomer Louisville.

NOTES: The Wildcats are now 45-13 (.776) against non-conference opponents in the regular season over the past four seasons ... Villanova leads the all-time series with Fairfield 7-0 and is 34-7 (.829) all-time against teams from the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference ... The Wildcats have posted 11 straight wins against MAAC teams since a 71-65 loss to Siena during the 1994-95 season ... Redshirt freshman forward Lisa Karcic (New Hyde Park, N.Y.) had five rebounds and four of the team's season-high eight blocks in 13 minutes ... Suez-Karni has reached double figures in 11 of 12 games this season ... Viani is averaging 20.0 points over the last two games.