The Colorado women's basketball team just wanted to have some fun.

And that's what the Buffs did during Monday's 82-68 victory over Gonzaga. CU shot 50.8 percent from the field, including 47.6 percent (10-for-21) from behind the arc, with three players scoring in double figures, eight players scoring points and 11 players rotating into the game.

But Kathy McConnell-Miller knows it's time for her team to get serious, at least on the defensive end of the court, or the postseason party could end tonight.

CU hosts Villanova in the third round of the WNIT at 7 p.m. in the Coors Events Center.

"They run a system that we've never been exposed to before here and that this team hasn't ever prepared for," McConnell-Miller said. "Their five players that run this motion offense read each other well, they know each other, and they compliment each other well. I think it's more about how does our defense matchup with their offense. And they do things that we have consistently struggled with all year, and that's guarding the 3-point line."

The Wildcats (17-15) lead the nation with 9.9 made 3-pointers per game and average 26 shot attempts from behind the arc. Laura Kurz, the team's top scorer (15.1 ppg), shoots 43.7 percent from 3-point territory."We're just going to have to contest all shots and not give up second chances," said CU shooting guard Bianca Smith, who was 4-for-6 from behind the arc against Gonzaga. "Because that's when it breaks down, when you defend them for 30 seconds and they get a shot off, get a rebound, move the ball around the perimeter and somebody is wide open for a 3."

McConnell-Miller's first coaching job was as an assistant at Pittsburgh from 1991-93. So she's very familiar with Harry Perretta, who is in his 30th season as Villanova's head coach with 553 wins and counting at the school.

"Harry does an unbelievable job with his team and his motion offense," McConnell-Miller said. "He's just a great coach and I'm looking forward to them coming out here and playing a Big East team."

Perretta's team won the 2002 Coors Classic title in Boulder in 2002. Four months later, Villanova ended CU's season with a 53-51 victory in the 2003 NCAA Mideast Region semifinals in Knoxville, Tenn.

This year the Wildcats finished tied for 11th in the Big East with a 5-11 conference record. They defeated American 53-52 at home in the first round and Wisconsin 60-54 on the road in the second round to earn this trip to the WNIT's version of the "Sweet 16."

Villanova has established new NCAA single-season records with 317 3-pointers made and 833 attempted.

"Once you get up on them and contest their 3-pointers, they go backdoor," McConnell-Miller said. "They're all smart players and they all fit into his system. Every school in Philadelphia is running the same offense because he has had so much success with it."