Villanova (5-5) finishes up its non-conference schedule over the next two weeks with contests at Delaware (3-5) and against James Madison (7-3). The Wildcats have lost two straight. Villanova lost to Temple, 76-62, in the championship game of the Big 5 Classic at the Finneran Pavilion on Friday, Dec 6. On Dec. 8, Villanova recorded a 74-71 loss to Fairfield in Connecticut.

The ‘Cats travel to Newark, Delaware to play the Blue Hens on Dec. 11 at 6:30 p.m. Delaware has lost five of its first six games but has picked up wins against Evansville and Delaware State in its last two games. 

The Wildcats and the Blue Hens have not met since the 2021 WNIT quarterfinals. In that matchup, the Blue Hens overpowered the Wildcats in Charlotte, 77-70. Graduate guard Tara Cousins is the only player who remains from that game. Cousins averages 9.9 points, while sophomore center Ande’a Cherisier has posted 11.5 points per game.

After Delaware, the ‘Cats have three days off before they play James Madison on Dec. 15. The game, Villanova’s last non-conference schedule, is scheduled to take place at 2 p.m. at the Finneran Pavilion. Two of James Madison’s three losses came against AP poll top-10 teams. The Dukes fell at Notre Dame and at Texas.

In their last matchup, Villanova defeated the Dukes, 76-67 on December 9, 2021. Although she was redshirted that season due to injury, JMU redshirt junior guard Peyton McDaniel has made her comeback in full force by averaging 15.5 points per game last season to lead her team in scoring.

Villanova is looking forward to starting conference play on Dec. 21, 2024. It is scheduled to play St. John’s at the Finn at 2 p.m.