Nov. 23, 2003

Final Stats

VILLANOVA, PA. - On Sunday, Nov. 23rd, in the 2003-04 home opener for the Villanova women's basketball team, the Wildcats got a game-high 17 points from Jennifer Hilgenberg and shot 26-of-35 from the free throw line en route to a 68-55 victory at The Pavilion. The win was Villanova's third straight, improving the team's record to 3-1 overall on the year. The Stags fell to 0-1 after their season-opening loss.

With the `Cats trailing 5-3, Villanova went on a 12-3 run in a span of 7:55 to claim a 15-8 advantage. Sophomore forward Kate Dessart Mager had six points for the Wildcats during the run.

Fairfield pulled to within five points at 18-13 with 5:41 remaining before intermission, but Villanova regained control and took a 29-17 advantage into the half.

The Wildcats shot just 36 percent (nine-for-25) from the floor in the first half, but were nearly perfect from the free throw line shooting nine-of-10. Dessart Mager led all scorers with eight points in the first 20 minutes, while forward Liad Suez and guard Courtney Mix each tallied five points. Milica Miljkovic had six points for the Stags before intermission, but the Villanova defense held Fairfield to just 19.4 percent shooting (six-of-31) from the floor.

The Wildcats maintained momentum in the early stages of the second half, leading 32-23 with 15:38 to go in the contest. The Stags would rally, however, going on a 8-2 run in the next 1:34 to cut the Villanova lead to 34-31 at the 14:04 mark. Guard Janelle McManus had four points for the Stags during the spurt.

With the score 44-40 with 9:24 remaining, the Wildcats would regain control. Villanova outscored Fairfield 13-6 over the next 4:48 to open up a 57-46 lead with just 4:26 left in the game.

Hilgenberg hit a three-pointer with 3:07 to go, giving the `Cats a 12-point lead. Villanova hit eight-of-10 from the foul line down the stretch as the Wildcats went on for the 68-55 win.

Hilgenberg finished with 17 points, shooting three-of-seven from the field and a perfect 10-of-10 from the foul line. Mix and Dessart Mager also scored in double figures for the `Cats with 12 and 11 points respectively.

Villanova ended the contest shooting 38 percent (19-of-50) from the floor, 28.6 percent (four-of-14) from three-point range and 74.3 percent (26-of-35) from the foul line.

Fairfield had four players in double figures for the game. Ivana Podrug and McManus each scored 12 apiece, while Candice Lindsay posted 11 points and 10 boards, and Miljkovic had 10 points.

The Wildcats will get back into action on Friday, Nov. 28th, traveling to New Mexico to take on Elon in the first round of the New Mexico Tournament at 8:00 p.m.