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Villanova star Maddy Siegrist scored 35 points in the Wildcats’ 76-59 first-round NCAA Tournament win over visiting Cleveland State on Saturday to become the fifth Division I women’s player to score 1,000 points in a season.

Siegrist’s total sits at 1,019, which ranks fourth behind Washington’s Kelsey Plum (1,109 in 2016-17), Missouri State’s Jackie Stiles (1,062 in 2000-01) and Baylor’s Odyssey Sims (1,054 in 2013-14). Siegrist passed Iowa’s Megan Gustafson (1,001 in 2018-19) on Saturday.

“It’s definitely something that I never even like thought about,” Siegrist said. “I never even thought that was an achievable goal. So yeah, it means a lot. I’m really glad we won the game. It’s better when you win when you get a milestone than when you lose and you get one.”

Siegrist, a first-team All-American, made 15 of 28 shots in a game in which the Wildcats (29-6) led by as many as 32 points. Christina Dalce collected 16 rebounds for Villanova.

Siegrist reached the milestone with a three-point play with 2:47 left in the second quarter. She missed a shot and Cleveland State’s Jordan Reisman grabbed the rebound. But Siegrist stole the ball and made the basket to reach 1,000. She was fouled and made the free throw.

The Wildcats will face 12th-seeded Florida Gulf Coast (33-3) on Monday in the second round. The Eagles beat fifth-seeded Washington State 74-63 earlier Saturday.

Destiny Leo scored 25 points for the 13th-seeded Vikings (30-5).

–Field Level Media