Women’s basketball loses to DePaul

 The women's basketball team was defeated 64-60 at DePaul on Saturday. The Wildcats' winless streak in Big East play has extended to nine games, bringing them to 11-11 overall and 0-9 in the Big East. Senior guard Kyle Dougherty scored a career-high 14 points in a loss to the Blue Demons, who wore pink uniforms for Women's Basketball Coaches Association Pink Zone initiative.

DePaul controlled the beginning of the first half gaining a 21-11 advantage. However, over the last 11 minutes of the half, Villanova went on a 20-9 run to end the first half with a lead of 31-29. Dougherty led the charge by scoring seven points in the stretch.

Villanova built an eight-point lead triggered by back-to-back 3s by freshman forward Emily Suhey and junior center Heather Scanlon. However, DePaul chipped away and regained the lead with under 10 minutes left when Anna Martin hit a midrange jumper. Villanova last held the lead with 8:13 to play when Scanlon hit a 3, putting them up 52-51.

Senior guard Maria Getty kept it close for the 'Cats, sinking a pair of free throws with 1:24 left in the second half to bring Villanova within three, 59-56. The senior guard, who has scored in double figures in four of the last five games, scored 14 points on the day. 

However, in the closing possessions, DePaul grabbed a costly offensive rebound and scored, which sealed the Wildcats' fate. The Blue Demons netted three of four from the line down the stretch.   

Dougherty and Getty's efforts were matched by DePaul freshman forward Katherine Harry's game-high 18 points and nine rebounds.

For the game, the Wildcats shot 39.6 percent from the floor (21-of-53) compared to DePaul's 43.3 percent from the floor (26-of-60). 

Five different Wildcats scored from beyond the arc en route to a 9-for-29 team effort. DePaul controlled the glass for a 40-29 rebounding advantage. Felicia Chester grabbed 13 rebounds for DePaul.  

Then Villanova finally picked up a conference win with an 83-69 upset victory over Syracuse at home on Tuesday. Getty led all scorers with 28 points and four assists. This puts the Wildcats ahead of .500 for the first time in awhile and continues Syracuse's slide.