Villanova holds off Big 5 foe St. Joe’s to clinch spot in WBIT semifinals

On a night where Lucy Olsen didn't score her first points until the third quarter, senior Bella Runyan's 16 points steadied Villanova. Up next: Penn State. Villanova defeated St. Joe's 67-59 in the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament quarterfinal match, securing a spot in the semifinals. Bella Runyan and Lucy Olsen were key figures in Villanova's victory, with Runyan shooting a perfect 4-for-4 from the three-point line. Despite a strong fourth quarter, St. Joseph's managed to maintain a six-point lead or more in the final 10 minutes of play. This win marks Villanova’�s last home game of the season and the first time in history that Villanova has seen St., Joe’S two times in one season. The team will now face No. 1 Penn State in the WBIT semifinals.

Опубликовано : 4 недели назад от Brooke Ackerman в

Bella Runyan (left) shot a perfect 4-for-4 from the three-point line to help lift the Villanova over St. Joe's in the WBIT quarterfinal matchup. Read more

In postseason play, it’s easy to hold your breath during the fourth quarter.

Now add in these two small factors for Villanova: it’s the last home game of the season, and it’s matched up against a Big 5 rival.

Luckily for Nova Nation, they can take a sigh of relief as the Wildcats edged out St. Joseph’s, 67-59, in the quarterfinals of the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament.

It was a touch-and-go fourth quarter for the Wildcats, and despite building up a double-digit lead with 4 minutes, 54 seconds remaining, the Hawks were relentless on the attack.

But Villanova kept St. Joe’s at arm’s length as they maintained a six-point lead or more in the final 10 minutes of play. And come the final minute, it was just a matter of running out the clock.

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What happens when your leading scorer gets double-teamed the second she touches the ball?

You find success elsewhere … or you overcome it. Lucy Olsen and the Wildcats did both.

Olsen had a slow start, scoring her first baskets off a pair of free throws early in the third quarter. After that, Olsen took offensive matters into her own hands.

The honorable-mention All American finished the game with 16 points and four rebounds. Olsen surged her efforts in the final minutes of the game, including going on her own 7-0 run over the course of 1:46 in the fourth quarter.

Junior Zanai Jones scored 10 points and grabbed six boards, while junior Kaitlyn Orihel and freshman Brynn McCurry each chipped in with nine and six points respectively.

Christina Dalce ended with a double-double, leading the Wildcats with 10 rebounds, despite playing just 23 minutes due to early foul trouble.

The Wildcats shot 43.9% from the field and 27.8% from the three-point line, while the Hawks shot 34.4% from the field and 18.6% from behind the arc.

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For the first two rounds of the WBIT, Villanova prided itself on their home court advantage.

But when the opposing team is coming from just six miles away, the fan section looks a bit more split than usual.

This is the latest game Villanova has ever hosted in March and the first time in history that Villanova has seen St. Joe’s two times in one season. Those factors led to nearly double its attendance at the Finneran Pavilion on Thursday night.

Wildcats fans packed the Finn for the Big 5 battle, with the Hawks having their own sea of red in support.

Any win is sweet, but your final win on your home court as a senior — that’s bittersweet.

With the quarterfinal win, the Wildcats end their season at home, and Villanova’s two seniors, Bella Runyan and Maddie Burke, played their last game at the Finn.

Runyan ended with 16 points, going a perfect 4-for-4 from behind the arc — the most success she’s found from deep all season — and making 6-of-8 shots from the field. She also grabbed six rebounds for the Wildcats.

With the win, Villanova will face No. 1 Penn State in semifinals of the WBIT at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind. on April 1.

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