Promotional Request Forms

Jan. 27, 2004

Box Score

VILLANOVA, PA. - Three days after surrendering only 38 points against Notre Dame, Villanova's defense was at it again, as the Wildcats limited visiting Syracuse to 42 points on 36.2 percent shooting in a 64-42 win on Tuesday night. Liad Suez and Jennifer Hilgenberg scored in double figures as the 'Cats improved to 14-4 on the season and 4-3 in the Big East.

Syracuse was playing with just seven players on its roster, and the lack of depth showed when center Chineze Nwagbo picked up her fourth foul with 12:52 left in the game. From that point on, the 'Cats outscored the Orangewomen, 24-11, turning a nine-point lead into a 22-point victory.

The Wildcats are now 8-0 at the Pavilion in 2003-04.

The game was played at an extremely slow pace, with both teams using a majority of the shot clock on each possession. Only 17 total points were scored in the game's first 10:01.

Jenna Viani's 3-pointer at the 10:33 mark of the first half broke a 7-7 tie, and opened a 21-7 spurt for 'Nova that spanned almost eight minutes. Syracuse would get as close as seven the rest of the way.

In addition to holding Syracuse to 36.2 percent field goal shooting, the Wildcats forced 14 turnovers and blocked six shots.

Suez's 14 points were a game-high, while Hilgenberg's 10 points put her in double figures for the sixth time this season.

Courtney Mix was just a field goal and an assist shy of her first career triple-double. Mix finished the evening with eight points, 11 rebounds and nine assists. It is her third straight double-digit rebounding game, and she has pulled down 47 boards in the last four contests.

Julie McBride was the lone Orangewoman in double figures with 12 points. Syracuse is now 6-11 on the year and 3-4 in conference play.

Villanova will play its next two games away from the Pavilion, beginning at Georgetown on Saturday, Jan. 31 at 1:00 p.m.