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Villanova coach Harry Perretta earns 700th career win

WASHINGTON -- Villanova coach Harry Perretta earned a milestone victory with a big rally.

Perretta joined the 700-win club Sunday as freshman Adrianna Hahn scored a career-high 29 points, including two free throws with five seconds left, as the Wildcats rallied to beat Georgetown 63-60.

"Winning 700 games is about so many people other than me," Perretta said. "First and foremost, it is a direct correlation to all the great players I have had the privilege to coach throughout my career. It is also a credit to all my assistant coaches and support staff people who have been with me over the years."

Perretta, in his 38th season with the Wildcats, also picked up his 300th Big East victory. He becomes the third active coach to win 700 games at one school, joining Geno Auriemma (UConn) and Robin Selvig (Montana).

"When you think about when he started and started coaching college in his 20s that just doesn't happen anymore," Auriemma said. "For him to be at the same school and go through those dominant phases back in the day and still be doing it the same way and still holding onto some of the values he holds onto, that's pretty special. He still is recognized as one of the really great teachers in the game. He is an amazing coach and has a great way of getting his players to buy into his system. I've never met one of his players that didn't love the entire time they were at Villanova."

Alex Louin and Samantha Wilkes added 11 points apiece for the Wildcats (17-10, 10-6), who outscored the Hoyas 23-15 in the fourth quarter.

Georgetown (14-12, 7-9) opened the fourth quarter with two quick baskets and a 3-pointer by Katie McCormick to take a 52-40 lead with 8:29 to play. Hahn and Wilkes had 3-pointers before a layup by Katherine Coyer tied the game at 54 with 1:53 remaining.

The Wildcats went ahead 59-58 on a Wilkes layup with 35 seconds left, and after a Georgetown turnover she made two free throws at 17 seconds. Dionna White made it a one-point game with seven seconds to go.

Dorothy Adomako had 24 points and White added 18 for the Hoyas.

Perretta has 438 losses, 249 in Big East games.

"Reaching a milestone like this is mostly about longevity," Perretta said. "I have been very lucky to have been given the opportunity to coach at such a special place for my entire career. This is a tribute to the Villanova administration and the Augustinians and I am very thankful for all of their support over the years."