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Head Coach Harry Perretta achieves 500th win

   Villanova women’s basketball coach Harry Perretta will attempt to tally career win number 500 when the Wildcats travel to Syracuse on Saturday, Jan. 29 for a 1 p.m. contest. Currently in his 27^th year at the helm of the Wildcat program, Perretta owns a career record of 499-276.

   Perretta will become the 26th women’s basketball coach in NCAA history to reach the 500 win plateau. His 499 victories currently rank him 21^st on the winningest active collegiate coaching list. 

   During his Villanova career, Perretta has led the Wildcats to eight NCAA Tournament appearances, top 25 rankings in the national polls, Big East regular season and tournament championships in both 1985-86 and 1986-87, the 2003 Big East Tournament title, seven outright and four shared Philadelphia Big 5 titles, and 13 20-win or better seasons. In addition, one of his players, Shelly Pennefather, was recognized in 1987 as the nation’s top women’s basketball player, winning the Margaret Wade Trophy and earning Kodak All-America honors.

   Over the last five-plus seasons, Perretta has guided Villanova to an impressive 119-53 mark, including four-straight 20-win seasons and four consecutive NCAA Tournament berths. The 2002-03 season was a special one for Perretta and the Wildcats. In addition to an impressive 28-6 overall record and a 12-4 Big East Conference mark, Perretta led the Wildcats to their third Big East Conference Tournament championship and first since 1987 with an improbable 52-48 upset over previously unbeaten Connecticut. The win snapped Connecticut’s NCAA Division I women’s basketball record of 70 straight victories and ended the Huskies streak of nine-straight conference tournament championships.

   Under Perretta’s tutelage, Villanova players also excel in the classroom. In his 27-year career, every one of his student-athletes who has stayed for four years has received her degree. Last season, Villanova ranked seventh in the country in team grade point average with a 3.353 GPA.

   Perretta registered win No. 499 with a 58-52 win over West Virginia on Jan. 23.

PERRETTA’S MILESTONE WINS

No. 1               Nov. 28, 1978                         VU 63, Philadelphia Textile 38

No. 100           Feb. 19, 1983                          VU 84, Georgetown 59

No. 200           Dec. 21, 1987                          VU 78, Temple 56

No. 300           Jan. 8, 1995                             VU 70, Georgetown 57

            No. 400           Dec. 2, 2000                            VU 60, Temple 55