Feb. 25, 2002
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NOTRE DAME, Ind. – A variety of factors will converge when No. 21/25 Notre Dame plays its final regular-season home game Tuesday at 7 p.m. (EST) against BIG EAST Conference rival Villanova at the Joyce Center. In addition to protecting their current 51-game home winning streak, the longest in the nation, the Irish will be seeking a measure of revenge against the Wildcats, who dealt Notre Dame a last-second 60-59 loss in their first meeting this season back on Jan. 12 at Villanova. On top of that, the Irish will be emotionally charged as they recognize their lone senior, guard/forward Ericka Haney, in a pregame ceremony.
Notre Dame (19-7, 13-2 BIG EAST) picked up its ninth consecutive win and locked up the No. 2 seed in the upcoming BIG EAST Championship with an 86-66 win at Georgetown last Saturday afternoon. Junior guard Alicia Ratay scored 20 of her game-high 24 points in the second half as the Irish wiped out a one-point halftime deficit with a season-best 49 points in the final period. Freshmen Katy Flecky and Allison Bustamante each scored 14 points, with Flecky setting a new career high in that department.
Villanova (17-9, 11-4) has positioned itself well for a run into the NCAA Tournament, winning its last five games, including a 76-64 win over Virginia Tech last Saturday. Senior guard Mimi Riley made her final home game a memorable one, chalking up a career-high 34 points, the most by a BIG EAST player this season. Junior forward Katie Davis added 13 points and junior forward Trish Juhline chipped in with 10 points for the Wildcats.
Juhline leads VU in scoring at 14.4 ppg., followed by Riley, who averages 12 points per night. Sophomore forward Courtney Mix is the top rebounder for Villanova, logging seven boards per game. As a team, the Wildcats rely heavily on the three-point shot, averaging a whopping 26 three-point attempts per game.
Harry Perretta is in his 24th season as the head coach at Villanova, compiling a 434-254 (.631) record with the Wildcats. He is 4-11 all-time against Notre Dame, including an 0-5 mark at the Joyce Center.
– ND –