THE BASICS:
 
RESULT: Villanova 71, Hartford 53
RECORDS: Hartford (0-1); Villanova (1-0)
LOCATION: Chase Arena at Reich Family Pavilion (West Hartford, Conn.)
 
THE LEAD:
 
The University of Hartford women's basketball team dropped a 71-53 decision to the visiting Villanova Wildcats in its 2017-18 season opener on Friday night. Adrianna Hahn had 18 points – including four three-pointers – for the Wildcats, who used a hot third quarter to pull away from the Hawks.

Hartford senior Darby Lee led the Hawks' offense with 17 points while junior Lindsey Abed added 15 in the losing effort.
 
FIRST HALF:
 
Villanova jumped out to an early lead, using a 4-of-8 start from the field to take a 9-4 advantage with 4:49 to go in the first quarter. The Hawks quickly closed the gap to two, at 11-9, on a pair of Mary Pattison free throws and a three-point play by Abed, before the two sides traded points to the tune of a 16-13 score at the end of the quarter.

Hartford remained within striking distance, keeping it a one-possession game through the midway point in the second quarter. With 4:31 left, Jannah Tucker knocked down a three-pointer for the Wildcats, sparking an 8-3 run that gave Villanova its largest lead of the half – an eight-point edge – with 1:35 left. But Hartford chipped away at its deficit, scoring eight of the final 10 points of the half to pull within five, 35-30, at the break.
 
SECOND HALF:
 
The Wildcats broke the game open with a 13-2 run in the third quarter, which included three makes from long range and pushed Villanova's lead into double figures for the first time in the game. Hahn, who jump started the rally with a three, capped off the run with another three to make it a 48-35 lead with 3:37 to go. Holding Hartford to just two points from the free throw line for the remainder of the quarter, the Wildcats pushed their lead to 58-37 with a quarter-ending, 10-2 run.

The Hawks picked up the pace offensively in the final quarter, but it wasn't enough to mount a comeback. Knocking down three more three-pointers, the Wildcats maintained at least a 16-point edge throughout the remainder of the game.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Mary Gedaka added a double-double off the bench for the Wildcats, scoring 15 points and pulling down 11 rebounds. Kelly Jekot and Tucker also finished in double figures, netting 10 points apiece.
• Villanova shot 46.9 percent (30-of-64) from the field, including 58.8 percent  (10-of-17) in the decisive third quarter.
• The Hawks, who capitalized from the line on a 16-of-22 effort (72.7%), finished the game shooting 30.5 percent (18-of-59).
• Hartford forced Villanova into 16 turnovers, scoring 13 points off those miscues.

 
NEWS & NOTES:

• Friday's contest marked the first-ever meeting between Hartford and Villanova.
• The loss to the Wildcats snapped Hartford's three-game winning streak on opening day.

 
NEXT ON TAP:
The Hawks continue their season-opening three-game homestand on Monday night, as they host Delaware at 7 p.m. The action will be broadcast live on ESPN3 with Jeff Dooley and Katie Roth on the call.