Penn Falls to Villanova, 69-44

Courtesy: University of Pennsylvania

Release: 12/05/2004

Junior Jennifer Fleischer led the Quakers with 12 points and 10 rebounds
for her third double-double of the season


Philadelphia - Penn women's basketball fell to Villanova, 69-44, today
in The Palestra. Junior Jennifer Fleischer led the Quakers with 12 points
and 10 rebounds, good for her third double-double of the season and the
11th of her career.

The Quakers (3-3, 2-1 Big 5) were never able to gain the upper hand on
Villanova as Penn suffered only its first Big 5 loss of the season. The
Wildcats (4-2, 1-0 Big 5) opened the game on a basket by Jana Rediger and
never looked back. Villanova used a 13-0 first-half run to take a 32-19
lead into the break. Betsy McManus led Villanova with 15 points off the
bench, while Courtney Roantree and Kate Dessart-Mager also finished in
double figures with 14 and 10 points, respectively. The Wildcats' non-
starters were a key component to their victory, outscoring Penn's bench
23-6 in the first half, 37-18 for the game.

Villanova had a hot hand to open the second half, making three-
consecutive three-point baskets to open up a 44-27 lead at the 15:40
mark. The Wildcats finished the game shooting 35.8 percent from the field
and 44 percent from behind the arc.

In addition to Fleischer's 12 points, Monica Naltner scored eight points
for the Red and Blue, including six in the first half. She also pulled
down four boards. The Quaker bench chipped in 18 points led by Joey
Rhoads who finished with six points on 3-of-6 shooting from the floor.

The Quakers close out their Big 5 schedule on Dec. 8 at Temple. Tip off
is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. as part of a double-header with the Penn men's
basketball team taking on the Owls at 8 p.m at the Liacouras Center.

Written by Jennifer Hildebrand