Villanova Honors Legend Harry Perretta with Plaque Dedication as Wildcats Pull Away Late to Beat Georgetown 67-55
VILLANOVA, Pa. — The Finneran Pavilion crowd had two reasons to stand on Saturday: to honor the architect of the Villanova women’s basketball program and to watch the current squad extend its home dominance. On a day dedicated to alumni, the Wildcats celebrated legendary former head coach Harry Perretta during a halftime ceremony before pulling away in the fourth quarter to defeat Georgetown 67-55.
The victory improved Villanova to 19-5 overall and 12-3 in Big East play, marking their 11th consecutive win at home and fourth straight overall.
A Permanent Place in History
Halftime provided the day’s emotional peak as the university unveiled a plaque enshrining Perretta in the Finneran Pavilion entrance. The honor, described by the athletic department as equivalent to a jersey retirement, cements Perretta’s 42-year legacy on the Main Line.
Perretta, who retired in 2020 with 783 career wins, built the program from the ground up, leading the Wildcats to 11 NCAA Tournament appearances and multiple Big East titles. The ceremony was witnessed by a large contingent of former players returning for Alumni Day, bridging the gap between Perretta’s four-decade tenure and the current era led by his former protégée, Denise Dillon.
“You see that the atmosphere here, the crowd, just the support that we get, it’s unbelievable,” Dillon said, reflecting on the energy in the building. “It wasn’t always like this in the Pavilion, and to feel that energy and excitement, it’s something that every player thrives off.”
Wildcats Surge Late to Seal Victory
While the afternoon was heavy on nostalgia, the game itself was a grind until the final minutes. Villanova held a narrow 54-46 lead early in the fourth quarter before exploding for a decisive 15-2 run that put the game out of reach.
Sophomore guard Jasmine Bascoe anchored the offense, scoring 19 points—including 13 in the first half—to keep the Wildcats ahead when the offense stagnated early. Senior Denae Carter orchestrated the floor game with 11 points and a team-high six assists, while freshman Kennedy Henry provided a defensive spark with four steals and 10 points. Kelsey Joens also chipped in 10 points, hitting a critical corner three during the fourth-quarter surge.
Villanova’s defense was the difference-maker, forcing 12 turnovers in the first half alone and limiting Georgetown’s perimeter shooting throughout the contest.
Hoyas Fade Down the Stretch
Despite the final score, Georgetown (12-12, 5-10 Big East) remained competitive for three quarters, threatening to spoil the festivities. The Hoyas, now on a four-game losing skid, managed to cut the deficit to single digits multiple times but lacked the offensive firepower to close the gap.
Junior guard Khia Miller led Georgetown with 12 points, and Laila Jewett added 10, but the visitors struggled to find a rhythm against Villanova’s pressure. The loss drops the Hoyas to seventh in the conference standings, complicating their postseason positioning as the regular season winds down.
Next Up
Villanova will look to continue its winning streak on the road when they travel to Cincinnati to face Xavier on Wednesday, Feb. 11. The Wildcats previously defeated the Musketeers by 17 points in January and hold an 18-game win streak in the series.
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