Despite the absence of the team’s former star Maddy Siegrist, the Villanova Wildcats had a great showing during an exhibition game against Jefferson last week, writes Brooke Ackerman for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Spurred on by junior guard Lucy Olsen’s 22 points, the team recorded a commanding 69-42 win during its first time on the court this season.

The Wildcats are now looking at Olsen, who is from Collegeville, as the new number one on the team, and she fully delivered in her preseason debut.

“The team did a great job of finding when I was open,” said Olsen. “Overall, I want to help, so if I need to score points, I’ll do that.”

The team’s starting five, which consists of Olsen, forward Christina Dalce, senior guard Maddie Burke, senior guard Bella Runyan, and junior guard Zanai Jones, scored 50 of the Wildcats’ 69 points.

The team also welcomed some fresh faces, including freshman Maddie Weber who was the first substitute off the bench and the Wildcats’ third leading scorer of the game getting 10 points.

“[Weber’s performance] was good,” said head coach Denise Dillon.

Read more about Lucy Olsen and the rest of the Villanova Wildcats team in The Philadelphia Inquirer.

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