The SU women's basketball team opened up their postseason Big East Tournament play with a 61-56 victory over Villanova on Sunday night.

The Orange maintained about a 10-point lead throughout the game, and outlasted a late Villanova run late to pull out the victory. SU's Kayla Alexander had a career day, scoring a career-high 34 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, leading the Orange to the victory.

SU now plays the University of Connecticut in the next round at 8 p.m. on Monday. That game will be televised on ESPNU.