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Garzon emerging as key third option for 'Nova WBB

10/31/2021, 12:30am EDT
By Ty Daubert

Ty Daubert (@TyDaubert)

VILLANOVA — With two standouts leading the way, Villanova women’s coach Denise Dillon is counting on someone else to step up for the Wildcats. Maddy Siegrist and Brianna Herlihy are the stalwarts, that’s no surprise to anyone; a third scoring presence would make the Wildcats a real threat in the Big East.


Lior Garzon (above) poured in 22 points as Villanova rolled in an exhibition game Saturday. (Photo: Mark Jordan/CoBL)

Sophomore Lior Garzon just might be the player to do it. A reserve last season, the sophomore forward from Israel is stepping up into not just a starting role, but potentially a starring one.

“I think she did some great things for us coming off the bench (last season),” Dillon said, “but we told her we’re going to need a lot more from her on both ends of the floor this year.”

If ‘Nova’s first exhibition game was any indication, Garzon might just be up for the task.

She got off to a hot start as ‘Nova swarmed Division II opponent Indiana University (Pa.) Saturday night at the Finneran Pavilion, contributing on both ends in a 93-44 win.

It all started with Garzon hitting a 3-pointer from the top of the key four seconds into the game. She immediately picked off a pass and took it all the way for a layup. Garzon then sandwiched another 3-pointer in between two Siegrist layups, then added another two points in the paint to start the game on a 14-0 run.

Garzon, who averaged 8.8 points in 20.9 minutes per game last season, finished with 22 points on Saturday night, going 8-for-14 from the floor and 3-for-7 from beyond the arc. That would top her career high of 19, set last year against Butler; that was one of 10 double-digit scoring games as a freshman, when she shot 34.5% from the 3-point arc.

“She’s hearing us,” Dillon said. “She’s doing it every day at practice. I think there’s so much growth from last year to this year, so much more. Lior is just tapping into what she’s capable of doing.”

The 6-foot-1 forward was only topped in scoring by Siegrist, a preseason all-Big East First Teamer, and her 27 points. The junior made an impact in a variety of ways on both ends, also leading the team in rebounds (10) and tying for the lead in steals (3) and assists (4) while shooting 3-for-5 from 3-point range. 

It’s that versatility she flashed in the exhibition that makes Siegrist one of the premier players in the conference and the focal point of this Wildcats team. 

“She elevates everybody else’s game,” Dillon said of the forward. “Knowing that you have her and her competitiveness and her drive, she brings it every day. So, with that reliability, you’re counting on the others to see that and come up to her level.”

Finding players to mesh alongside Siegrist will be the key for 'Nova this season. 

Herlihy, last year’s Big 5 Most Improved Player,is a graduate forward who averaged 13.8 points and 7.1 rebounds last season. Outside of those two, it could be a lot of mixing and matching based on who is contributing the most. Garzon certainly fit the bill on Saturday.


Spring-Ford grad Lucy Olsen (above) started in the Villanova backcourt. (Photo: Mark Jordan/CoBL)

Junior guard Brooke Mullin and freshman guard Lucy Olsen, a two-time first team all-state high schooler at Spring-Ford, filled out the lineup, but a number of players could make a case for more playing time at points this year.

Junior Kenzie Gardler (1.9 points per game) and sophomore Bella Runyan (4.9 points) both saw minutes in the Wildcats rotation last season. Other freshmen in guard Anahi-Lee Cauley (Kent School, Conn.), Zanai Jones (Hudson Catholic, N.J.) and Archbishop Wood graduate Kaitlyn Orihel each played over 15 minutes against IUP.

Saturday was important for those younger players to get their first taste of college basketball, Dillon noted, but also for the entire team, allowing the players to get back into the mindset they need for a game.

“We had a scrimmage last week, but playing an exhibition game with some fans in the stands and the band was really cool,” she said. “It was nice, because … we didn’t have this environment last year. So I felt, especially with the young group joining us, we needed to have this set up before the real games begin.”

Experiences like this weren’t possible last year, Dillon’s first at Villanova, due to COVID-19 protocols, but this season has been a bit easier in that regard. Dillon said she wants her team to be a better-disciplined defensive squad this season as it follows up a 17-7 (9-5 Big East) campaign, and Saturday gave a look at 'Nova’s progress on that end. They were picked fifth in this year’s preseason poll, the same spot they finished in this spring.

The Wildcats did have the defensive intensity going against IUP, but committed 21 team fouls. It’s something they’ll need to clean up in the coming days ahead of the regular season opener on Nov. 10 against Princeton at the Finneran Pavilion, but they’re definitely glad they got the chance to spot the issue in a setting like Saturday’s.

“Having a game under your belt going in can help,” Dillon said. “But it doesn’t matter if we aren’t connected when the time comes against a great team like Princeton.”


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