Villanova began the New Year with a tough setback on Wednesday, suffering a 56-55 buzzer-beater defeat against Seton Hall (11-3, 3-0 Big East) at the Finneran Pavilion.
Villanova graduate guard Bronagh Power-Cassidy dropped 17 points to tie a season-high, but it was not enough for the team to come out with a win over the Pirates. The Wildcats led by one point as they watched Pirate guard Faith Masonius’ final layup spin around the rim and drop in the net.
Freshman guard Jasmine Bascoe was shy of a double-double, with 16 points and seven rebounds. Bascoe is currently a top-10 scorer in the Big East, averaging 15.6 points per game.
The Wildcats shot 41.1% from the field and 21.1% for threes, while the Pirates finished with 38.8% from the field and 28.6% from behind the arc.
Junior forward Denae Carter finished with 11 points and led the team with eight rebounds.
The Wildcats started the game slowly on both ends of the floor. Villanova suffered from a shooting drought that lasted for over five minutes while committing multiple fouls on defense, sending the Pirates to the line with their bonus. Seton Hall also forced seven turnovers in the first quarter and held Villanova to single digits.
The Pirates, however, only led the Wildcats, 15-7.
Villanova’s biggest relievers on offense were Bascoe and Carter, whose connection helped the team go on a 9-2 run within the last four minutes of the second quarter. The run was capped off with a Bascoe buzzer-beater to end the half and send the Wildcats into the locker room only down 27-24.
At the half, Villanova was 37% on field goals and 11.1% behind the arc, while Seton Hall went 36.4% from the field and 25% on three-pointers. Seton Hall had 20 rebounds compared to Villanova’s 13, but the Wildcats won the turnover battle with nine forced turnovers compared to the Pirates’ nine.
Throughout the second half, Seton Hall managed its lead over Villanova.
Villanova’s chance to win was kept alive by Power-Cassidy, scoring 12 points in the second half. The Wildcats and Power-Cassidy were able to keep the deficit within single digits as the last 10 minutes of basketball closed in.
Momentum shifted back and forth between each team, resulting in five lead changes. Villanova started off the fourth quarter with a 10-1 run and held the Pirates off to take the lead with the final buzzer closing in.
It all came down to the last twenty seconds of the game. The Wildcats could not finish possessions with points and turned the ball over to give Seton Hall a multitude of chances to win the game.
Villanova put together its worst free throw performance of the season, shooting 62.5% (5-8) from the line. Two of the Wildcats’ misses came at a chance to extend their lead to three with six seconds left in regulation. Carter missed both of her free throw attempts, leaving the Wildcats with a narrow 55-54 lead.
The Pirates rebounded the missed free throw and drove down the court for one last opportunity to win their first game at the Finn since 2020-21.
Masonius caught a pass and drove to the basket with four Wildcats defenders closing in on her. With her back to the basket, Masonius flipped the ball over her head and watched as the ball bounced around the rim and fell in.
Seton Hall is now 3-0 in Big East play for the first time since the 2015-16 season.
Villanova will now prepare to face No.7 UConn (12-2, 3-0 Big East) on Sunday, Jan. 5 at home in the Finneran Pavilion (1:30 p.m., SNY).
