VILLANOVA, PA. (December 20, 2014)—The Sacred Heart women's basketball team opened Saturday night's contest with a 18-0 run en route to the program's first ever victory over Big East member Villanova. Hannah Kimmel (Harpursville, Pa.) and Gabrielle Washington (Mesa, Ariz.) combined for 57 points to lead the Pioneers to the 72-49 win, which has SHU sitting 5-5 at the non-conference slate.
Kimmel lit up the scoreboard with a career-best 33 points shooting, 70.5% (12-17) from the floor and 75% (6-8) from downtown. She posted her second double-double of the season pulling down 10 defensive rebounds. Washington recorded her first double-double of the season after coming off injury, tallying 24 points, shooting 66.7% (6-9) from beyond the arc, and grabbing 11 boards.
Alissa Tarsi (Clinton, N.J.) opened the game with a layup sparking a nine-point SHU run, while the Pioneers' tough defense held the Wildcats scoreless through the first six minutes of the game. With 15:20 on the clock, Gabrielle Washington (Mesa, Ariz.) landed a three to put SHU up 12-0 forcing Villanova Head Coach Harry Perretta to call a timeout.
Sacred Heart's stellar start saw the Pioneers shoot 9-for-13 from the floor in the first eight minutes for a 24-5 lead.
With 6:47 on the clock, Lauren Burford's jumper ignited an eight-point Wildcat streak cutting into SHU's lead, 32-20, but Hannah Kimmel (Harpursville, N.Y.) tallied her fourteenth point of the game knocking down a triple halting the run. On the next possession, Kimmel extended the Pioneers' lead getting sent to the line for three shots and made them all.
Holding Villanova scoreless in the final two minutes of the half, Sacred Heart headed into the locker room with a 45-22 lead.
SHU continued to extend its lead in the second half. The Wildcats only managed to come within 20 points briefly two times as Alex Louin and Kimmel exchanged jumpers early in the second. Ultimately, Kimmel and the Pioneers came out on top with the 67-44 lead.
Caroline Coyer hit a three just under the four-minute mark for Villanova's final score of the game, as SHU went on to score two more points on a Kimmel jumpers before the final buzzer.
The Pioneers open Northeast Conference play after the New Year with a three game home stand. On January 3, they host St. Francis Brooklyn at 1:00 p.m. The following Monday, in-state rival Central Connecticut State comes to town for a 5:00 p.m. game.
