Updated BIG EAST Notes

Villanova (15-2, 4-0 BIG EAST) won its sixth in a row with a 52-49 victory over USF (12-5, 1-3 BIG EAST) on Saturday afternoon. Wildcat junior guard Devon Kane made three foul shots with under a second remaining to lift the Wildcats first win over the Bulls (1-7) in eight tries. With the victory, Villanova improved to 15-2 overall and 4-0 in BIG EAST play for the first time since 1986-87. There were eight ties and six lead changes in the game.

Elsewhere, UConn junior Stefanie Dolson shot 9-of-16 from the field for a career-high 25 points in an 87-62 win over No. rv/23 Syracuse (15-2, 3-1 BIG EAST) on Jan. 19 at home. The Huskies are 16-1 on the year, 4-1 BIG EAST. Dolson also had seven rebounds, six assists, two blocks and two steals. She surpassed 1,000 points for her career and has 1,017.

Syracuse-UConn Highlights

In Chicago, DePaul (14-5, 3-2 BIG EAST) beat Providence (5-12, 0-4 BIG EAST) by the score of 79-67 at home. DePaul is 11-1 at McGrath-Phillips Arena in 2012-13 and 159-24 since 2000-01. The Blue Demons are riding a 10-game home winning streak this year, tops in the league.

Other action saw Georgetown (11-7, 2-3 BIG EAST) beat Seton Hall (7-11, 2-3 BIG EAST) at home 70-50. It was the BIG EAST television Network Game of the Week with highlights available here.

In addition Marquette (10-7, 2-2 BIG EAST) won at Pittsburgh (9-8, 0-4 BIG EAST) by the score of 74-65.

The No. 15/13 Cardinals (15-4, 3-2 BIG EAST) have been getting it done on both sides of the ball. Ranked among the league leaders in scoring at 74.8 ppg, Louisville also ranks third in the BIG EAST defensively allowing just 51.1 ppg. In its last time out against Cincinnati on Friday night, Louisville held the Bearcats (8-9, 0-4 BIG EAST) below 20 points in both halves. The Cardinals led 31-15 at the intermission and won 72-33.

In action on Sunday, No. 2/3 Notre Dame (15-1, 4-0 BIG EAST) hosts St. John’s (9-6, 3-0 BIG EAST) at Noon on Jan. 20. The game will be televised on ESPNU. Notre Dame leads the BIG EAST regular season series 18-3. The last STJ win came on Feb. 16, 2010.

Material from interviews, school websites, the Associated Press wire service as well as league and team sources was used in this report. All times are Eastern