The Sun’s Arizin: Villanova Women’s Basketball Takes Top Big East Honors

Happy Friday Nova Nation! They say if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. Well the Villanova Women did just that this year. Not only did they take down top seeded UConn on the road already, but now they’ve swept the top awards the Big East has to offer.

Denise Dillon: Big East Coach of the Year

In just her second year at the helm of the program, former player Denise Dillon appears to be the perfect hire to replace the legend that is Harry Perretta. After being the most successful coach in Drexel history, she’s already on her way to catching up to her former boss and mentor with her own legend status on the Main Line.

Villanova was picked to finish fifth overall in the Big East per the Coaches Preseason Poll. Instead, Dillon’s Wildcats smashed expectations. Not only did they earn the #2 seed in the Big East Tournament on the strength of a 13-1 finish to the season, but they’re also now locks to hear their names called on Selection Monday. Can’t wait to see how far they go this post-season.

Maddy Siegrist: Big East Player of the Year

Villanova’s star player isn’t just one of the best players on this Villanova team. She may be the best player on ANY Villanova team. This season she earned Big East Player of the Year in part on the strength of setting a new single season scoring record for the conference at 27.9 PPG, and she’s not done yet.

Siegrist currently sits at #3 All-Time in Points for the Wildcats with 1,714, and she still has another year at Nova to go after Shelly Pennefather’s All-Time school scoring record at 2,408. If she keeps playing at this elite level, she’s going to get there in a hurry.

Lior Garzon: Big East Most Improved Player

In just her Sophomore season, Garzon is already viewed as one of the rising stars in the Big East. This season she’s been Villanova’s second leading scorer (13.9 PPG) and third best rebounder (4.2 RPG). The Israel native also leads the team in 3pt shots made this season, making her a terrific running mate alongside Siegrist. Not only did she earn the Most Improved honor, but she was also named to the All-Big East 2nd Team.

Lucy Olsen: Big East All-Rookie Team

It’s already a statement when you can step up to the college level and start all 28 games at the point guard position as a True Freshman. It’s even more impressive to be named to the all conference team when you do it. Olsen is second on the team in assists, and holds the team’s best assist to turnover ratio, making her the perfect distributor on a team full of weapons.

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