After hosting DePaul in a midweek Big East matchup, Villanova (9-9, 3-3 Big East) defeated DePaul (9-10, 4-2 Big East), 66-55, at the Finneran Pavilion.
Sophomore guard Maddie Webber and freshman guard Jasmine Bascoe led in scoring, each with 18 points. Webber also led the team in rebounding, grabbing six total boards. Bascoe followed next with five. They were the only two players to reach double figures in points.
Villanova shot 44% on field goals and 31.8% from beyond the arc, while going 15-23 from the free-throw line. Meanwhile, DePaul was 31.7% on field goals and 18.8% from the three.
The Wildcats started strong, racking up several points from the foul line and holding DePaul to just five baskets. Graduate guard Maddie Burke and Bascoe led the way in the first quarter, putting up five and six points, respectively.
In the second quarter, Villanova went on a 6-0 run to reach its largest lead yet and headed into the locker room ahead, 34-27. Webber scored 14 points in the first half alone.
The Blue Demons cut into Villnonova’s lead, making the score 43-41 after going on a 13-2 run. In the fourth, Villanova regained the lead after netting three consecutive shots from beyond the arc, shot by graduate guard Bronagh Power-Cassidy, junior guard Ryanne Allen, and senior guard Kaitlyn Orihel.
The Wildcats finished off the win with a strong performance in the fourth quarter, despite the Blue Demons outrebounding them across the game, 41-36.
Webber also earned herself a spot on the Big East weekly honor roll for the second time this season, after averaging 17.5 points and 4.5 boards last week.
Villanova will now face St. John’s (11-5, 1-4 Big East) away this Saturday, Jan. 18.
This weekend’s game will be the teams’ second meeting of the season. The Red Storm is coming off a blowout win against Xavier and faces No. 6 UConn on Wednesday, Jan. 15.
Against the Wildcats, St. John’s will be looking for revenge after falling to Villanova, 71-57, on Dec. 21. Currently, the Red Storm is ranked eighth in the Big East conference, while Villanova stands at sixth. Tip off for the matchup is set for 2:00 p.m. on FloSports.
