The party goes on for Villanova, into the NCAA Sweet 16
Next stop for Villanova, the NCAA Sweet 16, after taking out Florida Gulf Coast. With her 31 points, Maddy Siegrist set an NCAA Division I record (most 20-point games to start a season, 35 straight.)
L-R: Maddy Siegrist, Kylies Swider, Brooke Mullin, Maddie Burke, Kaitlyn Orihel, Megan Olbrys, and Lucy Olsen of Villanova celebrate after their victory over Florida Gulf Coast in a 2nd round Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Monday night, Villanova’s Finneran Pavilion packed in with witnesses, there to see something special, last rows full, student section bouncing, March Madness on the Main Line.
The sub-plot: One last chance to see Maddy Siegrist live?
Advertisement
This generational talent and her Villanova Wildcats teammates, they did provide. Their season, terrific all along … now officially special. Their last home appearance, a showcase for what has made this group so special.
Next stop for Villanova, the NCAA Sweet 16, after taking out Florida Gulf Coast, 76-57. As soon as it was over, players turned halfcourt into a dance party. They looked like they wanted to turn the student section into a mosh pit.
With her 31 points, Siegrist set an NCAA Division I record (most 20-point games to start a season, 35 straight.) Villanova set a program record with 30 wins, breaking the mark held by Villanova’s 1981-82 AIAW Final Four team. Wildcats coach Denise Dillon won her 400th career game.
“Took a shower,” Dillon said, her own hair wet and askew when she got to the post-game media conference after a locker room celebration.
Such a strong basketball tradition at Villanova, Siegrist said, “Everyone wants to leave their mark.”
This kind of game, NCAA tournament pressure grabs a seat, too. The NCAA second round is so often the pressure game, a no-regrets season on the line. How would Villanova handle that?
An early answer: Who, us? Pressure? The Wildcats tore out of the starting gate, cutting to spots the visitors simply couldn’t reach. A Villanova sophomore guard took a star turn of her own, owning both ends of the court.
“You know you have to punch first in these type of games,” Siegrist said later.
This time, it was the other coach who talked about “being a little frazzled” early. “To me, Villanova is a Final Four-level team,” said Florida Gulf Coast coach Karl Smesko. “That’s how good I think they are.”
The atmosphere, Florida Gulf Coast star Sha Carter said, was normal, except for, you know, “Trying to hear each other.” Florida Gulf Coast, 33-4 for the season, did eventually apply pressure. Villanova’s 26-11 early extravaganza was mostly gone by halftime, the visitors within 39-33.
Villanova simply tore away again, this time for good.
The Villanova team huddles around Brooke Mullin before their game against Florida Gulf Coast in the 2nd round Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Brooke Mullin (left) of Villanova grabs hands with Nick Gaynor, Ambassador for Villanova Athletics, as she leads the team out for their game against Florida Gulf Coast in a 2nd round Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
The Villanova team huddles before their game against Florida Gulf Coast in the 2nd round Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
The packed Villanova student section for the game against Florida Gulf Coast in the Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Brooke Mullin (left) of Villanova and Emma List of Florida Gulf Coast go after a loose ball during the 1st half of a 2nd round Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Lucy Olsen (top) of Villanova scores over Emma List of Florida Gulf Coast during the 1st half of a 2nd round Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Maddy Siegrist (center) of Villanova fights for rebound with Tishara Morehouse and Uju Ezeudu (right) of Florida Gulf Coast during the 2nd half of a 2nd round Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Maddy Siegrist (center) of Villanova shoots over Emma List of Florida Gulf Coast during the 1st half of a 2nd round Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Maddy Siegrist of Villanova shoots over a Florida Gulf Coast defender during the 2nd half of a 2nd round Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Bella Runyan of Villanova goes up for a basket against Florida Gulf Coast during the 2nd half of a 2nd round Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Maddie Burke (right) of Villanova blocks a shot by Sha Carter of Florida Gulf Coast during the 1st half of a 2nd round Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Maddy Siegrist of Villanova comes up with a steal against Uju Ezeudu of Florida Gulf Coast during the 1st half of a 2nd round Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Maddy Siegrist of Villanova shoots over Florida Gulf Coast defenders during the 2nd half of a 2nd round Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Maddy Siegrist (right) of Villanova shoots over Maddie Antenucci of Florida Gulf Coast during the 1st half of a 2nd round Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Maddy Siegrist (right) of Villanova blocks a shot by Sha Carter of Florida Gulf Coast during the 1st half of a 2nd round Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Christina Dalce of Villanova goes up for a basket against Florida Gulf Coast during the 2nd half of a 2nd round Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Maddy Siegrist of Villanova is removed from their victory over Florida Gulf Coast to a standing ovation as the team advances in the Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Villanova players celebrate their victory over Florida Gulf Coast to advance in the Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023. L-R: Maddy Siegrist, Lucy Olsen, and Bella Runyan.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Villanova players celebrate their victory over Florida Gulf Coast to advance in the Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Coach Denise Dillon of Villanova celebrates after their victory over Florida Gulf Coast in a 2nd round Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023. It was her 400th career victory.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Maddy Siegrist (left) hugs Coach Denise Dillon of Villanova after their victory over Florida Gulf Coast to advance in the Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023. It was COach Dillon's 400thcareer victory.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
L-R: Maddy Siegrist, Kylies Swider, Brooke Mullin, Maddie Burke, Kaitlyn Orihel, Megan Olbrys, and Lucy Olsen of Villanova celebrate after their victory over Florida Gulf Coast in a 2nd round Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Villanova players celebrate their victory with Villanova students after defeating Florida Gulf Coast to advance in the Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Megan Olbrys (front) and Bella Runyan celebrate their victory with Villanova students after defeating Florida Gulf Coast to advance in the Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Zanai Jones (left) and Christina Dalce of Villanova do a victory dance after defeating Florida Gulf Coast to advance in the Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Megan Olbrys (left) and Christina Dalce of Villanova do a victory dance after defeating Florida Gulf Coast to advance in the Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
The Villanova huddles after their victory over Florida Gulf Coast in a 2nd round Women's NCAA Tournament.at the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University on March 20, 2023. Brooke Mullin center.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
This was it for Villanova home games, Villanova moving on to Greenville, S.C., a Friday, 2:30 p.m. date with Sweet 16 surprise entry Miami up next (ESPN).
Again, the pressure at this stage is real. By seeding, Indiana was supposed to be Villanova’s next opponent, the top seed in the region, but the Hoosiers fell behind No. 9 seed Miami early playing Monday on its homecourt, that game up for grabs to the last seconds, the Hurricanes scoring the last one. Bye bye, IU.
Even seeing the Florida Gulf Coast uniforms causes flashbacks to a decade ago … Florida Gulf Coast’s men at the Wells Fargo Center, taking it over with the Dunk City show, taking out Georgetown and San Diego State.
Jay Wright was in the house and he knows about special seasons, but Wright had his second-round scars along the way, too.
So just remember those opening moments. Siegrist got her buckets. Florida Gulf Coast’s coach said it was so hard to gameplan for Siegrist in one day. “I haven’t seen many players hit so many hard shots that she was able to hit.”
Sophomore guard Lucy Olsen really put on an early show. A star of the future was a star of the moment. That 26-11 lead included this Olsen line: 9 points on 4 of 5 shooting, 5 rebounds, 2 assists. Some college guards listed at 5-foot-9 are really 5-7. Olsen looks every inch of her height, and plays taller. Her long-armed defense of smaller driving Florida Gulf Coast guards was part of that early margin, too.
Siegrist, interviewed on TV post-game, got surrounded by fans chanting MVP. Interview over, Siegrist tried leaving by going to her right … nope, better go left. She’s used to maneuvering through heavy traffic, had just done it for 40 minutes.
“If this is my last game at home,” Siegrist said after the place calmed down and cleared out, “this is a great way to go out.”
I write sports columns focusing on colleges and Philly hoops. Over the years, I've covered Smarty Jones, World Cup soccer, and a memorable decade of John Chaney.
