’Nova women off to best start in 37 years

Alex Louin has for the dramatic

The senior guard hit a jumper with two seconds left in the third quarter to give Villanova a two-point lead over Temple Sunday, then she scored three points in the final 43 seconds to seal a 69-65 victory that gave the Wildcats their best start in 37 years.

Louin’s basket gave Villanova (9-0, 2-0 Big 5) a 4644 lead and ignited a 17-7 run that stretched the advantage to 61-51 with 5:58 left in the fourth quarter. Temple (7-3, 2-1 Big 5) cut it to 66-61, but Louin hit a layup with 43 seconds remaining to push the lead back to five.

Louin and Adrianna Hahn teamed up to make 3 of 5 from the free throw line to seal the victory for the No. 22 Wildcats, who are off to their best start since 1979-80.

Hahn led Villanova with 19 points, her 39th game in double figures, Louin added 15, Episcopal Academy grad Megan Quinn 12 and Jannah Tucker 10.

Tanaya Atkinson led the Owls with a game-high 24 points and a season-high 18 rebounds, her ninth double-double. Mia Davis scored 13 points.

Villanova out-rebounded Temple 49-37, which led to outscoring the Owls 17-4 on second chance points and 30-28 in the paint. a knack

Men’s Basketball

Dachon Burke scored 25 points with six 3-pointers and Robert Morris made 11 from beyond the arc in beating Drexel 74-60 to snap the Dragons’ threegame win streak.

Koby Thomas scored 21 points with six rebounds for the Colonials (6-4), who led by as many as 20 in winning for the sixth time in its last seven games. Matty McConnell added 10 points, 11 assists and three steals.

Burke opened the game with a 3-pointer and dunk, Jon Williams hit a 3, and the Colonials never trailed.

Drexel didn’t get within 13 points in the second half and finished shooting 42 percent from the floor and 4 of 16 from long distance after committing 18 turnovers.

Kurk Lee led the Dragons (5-5) with 15 points. Tramaine Isabell scored 12 off the bench, Sammy Mojica added 11, and Austin Williams grabbed 11 rebounds. WILLIAMSON 63, SUNY-ESF 48 » The Mechanics turned up the defensive pressure in the second half to erase a 34-28 halftime deficit.

Williamson held the Mighty Oaks to one point over the first 10 minutes of the second half and 14 points overall after the break. That defensive surge also paid dividends on offense as six Williamson players scored at least nine points.

Nazir Goldston led the way with 13 points. Ryan Tobin (Marple Newtown) added 11 points and Gus Pagan (Interboro) 10 for the Mechanics (6-6). Kyree Freeman handed out 10 assists.