Wildcats Win
February 12, 2005 04:10 PM | General
February 12, 2005
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Kate Dessart Mager’s fallaway basket with four seconds left lifted Villanova to a 52-51 victory over West Virginia Saturday afternoon at the WVU Coliseum.
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| West Virginia's Chakhia Cole drives to the basket in the first half of Saturday's game against Villanova. The Wildcats won on a last-second shot 52-51.
All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks photo |
West Virginia took the lead with 32 seconds left when Sherell Sowho made a pair of free throws. The Mountaineers opted to give a foul with 26 seconds left and after a pair of timeouts ran the clock down to five seconds, Villanova set up for an inbound play underneath its own basket.
The ball came directly into Dessart Mager, whose twisting shot over Kate Glusko in front of the basket fell over the rim and through the cylinder. The Mountaineers could manage just a desperation three-point heave from three-quarter court as the clock expired.
Villanova (14-8, 7-4) forced its deliberate style of play on West Virginia, often running the shot clock down to zero before taking an open shot. The Mountaineers had an opportunity early to dictate its up-tempo style but were unable to hit their shots.
After taking an early 6-3 lead, West Virginia couldn’t find the mark and that enabled Villanova to reclaim the lead, 11-8 after a Jackie Adamshick three with 11:51 remaining.
Another Adamshick three with 4:03 left gave the Wildcats a six-point lead -- their largest of the first half.
Early in the second half Villanova built its lead to seven, 32-25, following a Betsy McManus three-point basket. The Wildcats once again led by seven with 8:46 left after a Liad Suez three-pointer before West Virginia began chipping away.
Meg Bulger got things going with a jumper and then a Yolanda Paige steal and layup cut Villanova’s lead to three, 46-43. Adamshick and Bulger traded baskets before Bulger made a pair of free throws with 2:38 left to trim Villanova’s lead to one, 48-47.
Another pair of Bulger free throws at 1:05 gave the Mountaineers their first lead of the second half, 49-48.
Villanova regained the lead on a pair of Suez foul shots.
Villanova made 21 of 56 field goal attempts for 37.5 percent and were just six of 20 from three-point land for 30 percent. The Wildcats had six fewer rebounds than West Virginia and committed two more turnovers.
But West Virginia, now 13-9, 4-7, couldn’t force the issue, making just 20 of 59 from the floor for 33.9 percent.
The Mountaineers lost both games to Villanova this season and have dropped 10 of their last 11 to the Wildcats. The loss was also just WVU’s second at home this season; West Virginia is now 9-2 at the Coliseum.
The loss spoiled another gritty effort by Bulger, who finished with game-highs of 20 points and a career-high 13 rebounds. Yolanda Paige added 12 on just six of 16 shooting (37.5 percent).
Adamshick scored 16 points and Suez scored 15 and grabbed 10 rebounds.
West Virginia returns to action on Wednesday, Feb. 16, at Pitt for a 7 p.m. Big East game.
