Dec. 22, 2009

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PHILADELPHIA - Ashley Gale scored a game-high and tied her season-high with 19 points, but it was Villanova's 8-0 run midway through the second half that advanced the Wildcats to victory over La Salle Women's Basketball in Big 5 action at Tom Gola Arena on Tuesday afternoon, 44-41.

The win secured Villanova (8-2) a perfect 4-0 record in Big 5 play this year and its first outright Big 5 title since the 2003-04 season, ending Temple's reign of five straight.

The Explorers trailed by one with 13:29 remaining in regulation, 29-28 after Gale's third three-pointer of the contest. However two three-point baskets from Maria Getty ignited and capped off an 8-0 Villanova run which tied its largest lead of the game, 37-28.

Getty led all Villanova scorers with 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field and 3-of-4 shooting from beyond the arc. She also contributed four rebounds, an assist, a block and a steal.

Jamie Walsh answered back with a three-pointer down the stretch to chip away at the deficit, 41-37, but La Salle only managed to score four points in the final 1:43 of the game as the Wildcats sealed the game from the foul line. Walsh finished with five points on 2-of-8 shooting to go with three rebounds.

Prior to the midway point of the game, a Gale three-pointer and two consecutive layups from Nadia Duncan sparked a 7-2 run for La Salle to close out the first half, 24-20. Duncan led all La Salle bench scorers with six points.

For Villanova, Jesse Carey and Kyle Dougherty each added eight points apiece and combined for six boards and Megan Pearson followed up with seven points.

The Wildcats finished the game shooting 33.3 percent from the floor (17-for-51) and 21.4 percent from beyond the arc (6-for-28). They were outscored by the Explorers in the paint, 24-12, but did have the advantage in bench points, 14-10.

Morgan Robertson, who leads the Explorers in scoring average and rebounding this season, was held to just four points and three boards.

The Explorers (3-8, 0-1 Big 5) return to action on Tuesday, Dec. 29 when they face Holy Cross in the first game of the Hawk Holiday Classic presented by Staybridge Suites and Hotels. Game time is set for 4:00 PM.