Nova Wildcats Fall to UConn Huskies in First Matchup
Sarah Mortenson (33) led the Wildcats with 17 points and nine boards, shooting 50% from the floor as she made 7-of-14 field goals. (Image Courtesy of Villanova Athletics).
Down 23-17 after one, the Wildcats surged back in the opening two minutes of the second as it scored five quick points in two minutes- a three from Siegrist and a jumper from Brianna Herlihy cut UCONN's lead to one at 23-22.
Article by Dave Nguyen, AKSM Sports
VILLANOVA, PA - Villanova battled tough, but the third ranked UCONN Huskies handed the Wildcats its first loss of the season by a final score of 90-42. Four of the starting five for the Huskies scored in double-figures, while Sarah Mortenson and Maddy Siegrist combined for 32 points.
Villanova kept the game close in the first quarter, jumping out to an 8-6 lead in the opening three minutes with Siegrist scoring five of those eight points. Midway through the first, after the Huskies tied the game at eight, Mortenson hit a jumper to give Villanova another two-point advantage at 10-8. After UCONN tied the game at 10, it proceeded to go on a 13-7 run capped off by a triple from Christyn Willaims to end the quarter.
Down 23-17 after one, the Wildcats surged back in the opening two minutes of the second as it scored five quick points in two minutes- a three from Siegrist and a jumper from Brianna Herlihy cut UCONN's lead to one at 23-22. Yet, similar to the first quarter, the Huskies went on another run to pull away in the second quarter at the five minute mark. After a jump shot made by Paige Bueckers gave the Huskies a 32-26 lead, it went on a 10-3 spurt to take a 42-29 lead after 20 minutes of play.
Siegrist would continue to battle throughout the night, trying to provide a spark for the Wildcats, scoring the opening basket to start the second half to cut UCONN's lead to 11. After finishing with 34 points and a career high 19 boards against Creighton in her previous game, Siegrist finished with a modest 15 points and five boards. Despite her efforts, the Huskies displayed why they are a National Championship contender year in and year out. UCONN's lead grew to 21 with just under seven minutes to play and it never looked back. Juniors Christyn Williams, Olivia Nelson-Ododa, and Evina Westbrook combined for 54 points, 22 rebounds, and 15 assists for the Huskies, as it improved to 5-0 on the season.
Sarah Mortenson led the Wildcats with 17 points and nine boards, shooting 50% from the floor as she made 7-of-14 field goals. After reaching double figures in six of her first seven games, including three games of 20+ points, senior forward Brianna Herlihy finished with nine points and a team-high 11 rebounds.
The Wildcats will have a 10-day break before they host Georgetown on January 2nd to begin the New Year. Tip is set for 1:00 PM on the Big East Digital Network.