Feb. 22, 2002
Villanova (16-9 overall, 10-4 Big East) hosts Virginia Tech (17-8 overall, 8-6 Big East) at the Pavilion on Saturday, Feb. 23. Junior Trish Juhline is one point shy of scoring her 1,000th career point. For a complete version of Saturday's game notes, click on the .pdf file inside.
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Villanova Wildcats
(16-9 Overall, 10-4 Big East)
vs.
No. 24 Virginia Tech Hokies
(17-8 Overall, 8-6 Big East)
2:00 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 23, 2002
Villanova, Pa.
The Pavilion (6,500)
SERIES HISTORY
Overall Series Record: Virginia Tech Leads 2-1
Last Villanova Win: 11/29/97, 55-46
Last Virginia Tech Win: 3/5/01, 73-67
Streak: Virginia Tech has won two-straight
FAREWELL SENIORS:
With Saturday's contest versus Virginia Tech being the last home game of the season, Villanova seniors
Stephanie Baker and
Mimi Riley will be playing in their final game at The Pavilion in a Villanova uniform. Both fifth-year seniors, Baker and Riley have helped Villanova to a 86-57 record. In 114 career games, Baker has recorded 426 points, 487 rebounds, which is 12th all-time at Villanova, and 98 assists. In 111 games, Riley has tallied 759 points, 396 assists, which ranks ninth all-time in school history, and 331 rebounds.
PLAYING FOR A BYE:
With a win over Virginia Tech on Saturday, Feb. 23, Villanova will secure a fourth place finish in the Big East Conference and a bye in next week's Big East Conference Tournament. The top four teams will receive a bye in the first round of the conference tournament and will not play until the quarterfinal round on Sunday, March 3. By defeating the Hokies, the Wildcats will guarantee themselves of at least an 11-5 conference record. The only team that is currently behind Villanova in the standings that can win 11 conference games is Miami and if the Hurricanes and Wildcats tie, Villanova will get the higher seed due to the 80-52 win by Villanova over Miami on Jan. 29.
CONGRATULATIONS TRISH:
Junior guard Trish Juhline made history last Wednesday in Villanova's 59-46 win over Georgetown. In the win, Juhline made 4-of-9 from three-point range, giving her 190 career three-point field goals which sets a new school record for career triples. The previous record was held by Sue Glenning who made 189-of-535 from behind the arc during her career from 1992-96. For her career, Juhline is 190-of-502 from downtown. Juhline now owns three school records including minutes played by a freshman (970 in 1999-00) and free throw percentage by a sophomore (86.8% in 2000-01).
ON THE VERGE OF HISTORY:
Junior guard Trish Juhline enters play versus Virginia Tech on Saturday, Feb. 23 needing just one point for 1,000 career points. If she reaches this impressive milestone, Juhline will be the 15th player in Villanova school history to score 1,000 points and she will be just the fifth Wildcat to achieve the feat in or before their junior season. Juhline is currently tied for 15th at Villanova on the career scoring list with 999 points.
PRIME TIME PLAYER:
Junior guard Trish Juhline has given the Wildcats a big boost since returning from a broken foot that sidelined her for seven games. In the 12 games since her return, Juhline has made 66-of-143 (46.1 percent) from the floor, 41-of-98 (41.8 percent) from three-point range and 20-of-26 (76.9 percent) from the foul line for a combined 192 points (16.0 ppg.). In 18 games this year, Juhline is averaging a team-best 14.6 ppg., 3.2 rpg., 2.6 apg., and 1.1 spg. Juhline currently leads the Big East in scoring for just conference games with a 16.6 points per game average. She also leads the league in just conference games in three-point field goal percentage (45.9%) and three-point field goals made (3.55 per game).
RUNNING THE SHOW:
Senior point guard Mimi Riley is the Wildcat most responsible for running the Villanova offense. Beside running the Wildcat attack, Riley has looked to score more in this her senior season. In 24 games this year, Riley has scored in double figures in 18 of the 24 contests. Her best scoring effort of the season came against the University of Pennsylvania on Dec. 11 when she scored a career-high 23 points. For the year, she is averaging 11.1 points per game to go with a team-best 5.1 apg., and 3.7 rpg. Riley currently ranks ninth all-time at Villanova in career assists with 396. With four more assists, Riley will become just the ninth player in Villanova history to record 400 career assists. As a junior last year, Riley averaged 8.1 ppg., 3.7 rpg., and a team-high 5.1 apg.
TEAM BASKETBALL:
As is the case with all Harry Perretta coached teams, the 2001-02 Villanova Wildcats do a good job of playing team basketball. For the year, the Wildcats have an assist on 381 of their 534 field goals for a 71.3 percent ratio.
A PERFECT MIX:
Versatile is the best way to describe Villanova sophomore Courtney Mix. As the team's most multi-dimensional player, Mix will see time at both guard spots and both forward positions. In 25 games this season where she has started 11 times, Mix is averaging 9.1 ppg., a team-best 7.2 rpg., 3.1 apg., a team-high tying 1.6 spg., and 1.0 bpg in 30.4 minutes per contest. In her last outing versus Georgetown, Mix was all over the court tallying 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting to go with nine rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block in 26 minutes of action.
CLEANING THE GLASS:
Senior center Stephanie Baker was dominant on the backboard in Villanova's 59-46 win at Georgetown last Wednesday. The 11 rebound performance was her fourth double figure rebounding game of the season. After 25 games, Baker is averaging 4.7 ppg., and 6.2 rpg., which ranks second on the team.
DEEP THREAT:
Villanova has been putting up staggering numbers from three-point range the last month. In the last 10 games, the Wildcats are 112-for-299 (37.4 percent) from behind the arc. Villanova's three-point shooting barrage began versus Connecticut on Jan. 19 when they were 13-of-23 from long distance. After making just 5-of-27 from three-point range versus Boston College on Jan. 23, the 'Cats rebounded to make 17-of-29 three's at West Virginia on Jan. 26., and 14-of-32 at home versus Miami. On Saturday, Feb. 2 at Syracuse, Villanova was 12-of-38 from long distance. At North Carolina on Wednesday, Feb. 6, Villanova went 9-of-38 from behind the arc. On Saturday, Feb. 9 at Rutgers, Villanova was 10-of-27 from three-point land. In the Pittsburgh game on Feb. 13, the 'Cats were 13-of-26 from long distance. In their last home game versus Syracuse on Saturday, Feb. 16, the 'Cats were 10-for-30 from downtown.
This past Wednesday, Villanova connected on 9-of-29 from three-point range.
The Wildcats have now had eight games this season where they tallied double figure three-point field goals made, including six of the last 10 games.
140-STRAIGHT:
Entering play versus Virginia Tech on Saturday, Feb. 23, Villanova has made at least one three-point field goal in 140-straight games. The last time the 'Cats failed to connect on a triple in a game came at Boston College on Jan. 25, 1997. Twice during this 140 game span, Villanova has tied the then NCAA record for three-point field goals made in a game with 18 (vs. Penn 12/20/97/ vs. West Virginia on 1/3/00).
LAUNCH CODE:
Villanova will use the three-point shot to its advantage whenever the opportunity presents itself. Entering play against Virginia Tech on Feb. 23, Villanova is 223-for-663 (33.6 percent) from behind the arc, while Wildcat opponents are 85-of-245 (34.7 percent) from long distance. In terms of points, Villanova has outscored its opponents 669-255 from three-point range this season. Villanova's best three-point shooting game of the year came at West Virginia when they were 17-of-29 from long distance. The 17 trifectas is a single-season high for Division I women's basketball this season. The team's lowest three-point shooting game of the year came at Temple when they were just 1-of-5 from behind the arc. Villanova is currently averaging 8.9 made three-point field goals per game and averaging 26.5 three-point shots per game. Last year, the Wildcats made 228-of-660 from behind the arc for 34.5 percent. In 31 games a year ago, Villanova averaged 22.7 three-point field goals per game and made 7.3 triples per contest.
NATION'S BEST:
In the NCAA rankings released on February 18, Villanova leads the country in three-point field goals made at 8.9 per game. Iowa State is second at 8.6 per contest. The 17 three-point field goals Villanova made versus West Virginia on Jan. 26 is currently a season-best for NCAA Division women's basketball.
IN A ZONE:
In the last six games, junior forward Nicole Druckenmiller has benn shooting extremely well from three-point range. In the six games, Druckenmiller is 18-of-35 from three-point range for 51.4 percent and she has scored 56 points for an average of 9.3 points per game in that span. For the year, Druckenmiller has made 35-of-108 (32.4%) from behind the arc.
2001-02 DOUBLE-DOUBLES:
Mimi Riley 23 points 10 assists vs. Penn (12/11/01)
Stephanie Baker 11 points 16 rebounds vs. Rider (12/29/01)
THE GOOD HANDS PEOPLE:
Villanova has done a very good job this year of not turning the ball over. After 25 games, the Wildcats have committed 289 turnovers for an average of 11.6 per contest. In the last 12 games, Villanova has had 10 or less turnovers in nine of the 12 games, including having single digit turnovers in six of the 12 contests. In 25 games this season, Villanova has had single digit turnovers on eight different occasions.
BIG EAST RECOGNITION:
Junior guard Trish Juhline (Havertown, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) was honored by the Big East Conference after being named a Preseason All-Big East First Team selection in 2001-02. Juhline finished second on the team last season in scoring with an 11.1 scoring average at the shooting guard position. In addition, she made 73-of-191 from long distance to lead the Big East in three-point field goals made a season ago. She also averaged 2.8 apg., 2.5 rpg. and 1.0 spg. Thus far this year, she is averaging a team-leading 14.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.6 apg., and 1.1 spg.
