March 30, 2003

GAME: No. 2 Villanova (28-5) vs. No. 1 Tennessee (31-4).

REGIONAL: Mideast, final.

TIME: Monday, 7:30 p.m. EST.

SITE: Thompson-Boling Arena; Knoxville, Tenn.

As if ending Connecticut's record winning streak wasn't enough, Villanova now has to try to snap another awesome streak.

The Wildcats try to hand Tennessee its first home loss ever in an NCAA tournament game when the teams meet in the Mideast Regional final.

Villanova had the most surprising victory in women's basketball this season when it upset No. 1 UConn 52-48 in the Big East tournament championship game. That snapped the Huskies' winning streak at 70, longest ever in women's basketball.

In some ways, a win Monday would be even more stunning.

Tennessee is 43-0 all-time in NCAA tournament games at Knoxville. The Lady Vols have added to that total with three easy wins in this tournament, putting them within one win of a 14th Final Four.

The game Monday is an intriguing matchup between teams who play different styles and are led by coaches who are friends.

Tennessee is an athletic team that overwhelms opponents with its defensive pressure and rebounding strength. Villanova will try to prevent that from happening by using its deliberate offense and making 3-pointers.

But while the Wildcats' style is different, it won't be entirely unfamiliar to the Lady Vols. Villanova's Harry Perretta and Tennessee's Pat Summitt are friends, and Perretta visited Summitt over the summer to help teach her the offense.

"They are unique. I haven't seen anyone play like Villanova," Summitt said. "I at least am glad that we exchanged information.

"Everybody in the Big East knows what they are going to want to do. They are a skilled basketball team and have a great leader."

Villanova's style has worked through the first three rounds. The Wildcats are averaging just 58 points in the tournament, but haven't allowed more than 57 in any of their games.

The Wildcats trailed by 11 points in the second half Saturday and were having trouble with Colorado's 6-foot-5 Tera Bjorklund, but rallied to win 53-51 for their seventh straight victory and first appearance in a regional final.

"We won another game. I don't know how we do it," Perretta said. "I've never seen a team win with a lack of certain skills and athleticism. "Have you ever played a pickup game when you're outclassed and still win?"

The Wildcats will need to execute nearly perfectly Monday and hit plenty of 3-pointers, because if they are missing, they have almost no hope of playing Tennessee even on the boards. A big rebounding advantage would allow Tennessee to get its transition game going, and Villanova probably isn't athletic enough to keep up if that happens.

"With rebounding, if you miss against them they just take off," Penn State coach Rene Portland said of Tennessee, which routed her Lady Lions 86-58 Saturday. "I'm not sure anyone has been able to do that to Villanova this year so far."

Tennessee is in the round of eight for the 18th time in 22 years. The Lady Vols have won their five regional final games at home by an average of nearly 11 points.

Villanova and Tennessee have never met.

PROBABLE STARTERS: Villanova - F Davis, F Nicole Druckenmiller, C Jana Redinger, G Courtney Mix, G Trish Juhline. Tennessee - F Tasha Butts, F Ely, C Jackson, G Loree Moore, G Lawson.

TEAM LEADERS: Villanova - Juhline, 17.6 ppg; Mix, 7.3 rpg and 4.5 apg. Tennessee - Jackson, 15.8 ppg; Ely, 6.7 rpg; Moore, 4.0 apg.

HOW THEY GOT HERE: Villanova - Automatic bid, Big East tournament champion; beat No. 15 St. Francis 51-36, first round; beat No. 7 George Washington 70-57, second round; beat No. 6 Colorado 53-51, regional semifinals. Tennessee - At-large bid, Southeastern Conference; beat No. 16 Alabama State 95-43, first round; beat No. 8 Virginia 81-51, second round; beat No. 4 Penn State 86-58, regional semifinals.

ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT RECORD: Villanova - 6-6, 7 years. Tennessee - 78-15, 22 years.