In its final game at the Finneran Pavilion for the 2024-25 season, Villanova defeated Portland, 71-61, in the quarterfinals of the Women’s Basketball Invitational Tournament.

“I couldn’t be more proud of this group for coming together and continuing to get better as the season progressed,” head coach Denise Dillon said. “To get this game here at home, after an incredible win at [Saint Joseph’s] was really exciting. I felt their energy and was feeding off that. They came to play and get a win, so we can continue this season.”

The leading scorer and play-maker for the Wildcats was freshman guard Jasmine Bascoe, with 20 points and eight assists. 

In the first half, Bascoe also earned the Villanova record for most steals in a season by a freshman. She reached 65 total steals after recording four on the night.

“[Breaking the record] felt great,” Bascoe said. “It wasn’t really something I was aware of, but it feels good. I’ll take that but I just have to keep going. So I’m happy, but it’s part of the game.” 

Just behind Bascoe in scoring was sophomore guard Maddie Webber with 16 points. Junior guard Ryanne Allen and graduate forward Lara Edmanson also crossed the double-digit mark, with 12 points and 10 points, respectively. On the boards, junior forward Denae Carter led the team with eight.  

“It’s been great to see [Edmanson] just feeling better,” Dillon said. “We had to shut her down for a long time and when you’re not practicing, your confidence wavers a little bit. But with her being back and feeling healthy, you can just see changes in practices. It’s changing in her game, and it was great to see her in the last couple of games feel more like herself. It’s obviously been showing on the stat sheet.”

Coming off two back-to-back upsets against Stanford and Seton Hall, it was clear throughout the first half that the Pilots had little left in the tank. Meanwhile, Villanova was invigorated by its recent win against Big 5 rival Saint Joseph’s. 

The two-man team of Bascoe and Webber provided the most support for the Wildcats in the first half. Bascoe dished out seven of her eight assists in the first half, while Webber led the Wildcats in scoring. 

On the boards, Carter remained dominant. Senior guard Kaityln Orihel and Allen each added threes to boost the offense.

“It was about making the right reads in the first half, “ Bascoe said. “My teammates were getting open and, as a point guard, I have to hit them. Then, in the second half, when [Portland] changed its defense, it allowed more opportunity for me to isolate from the top, which is one of my strengths.”

On offense, Portland struggled to finish and limit turnovers. The Pilots gave away 15 points to Villanova off of 12 turnovers throughout the first half. Villanova led, 34-22, at the end of the half.

“It always comes back to the defensive end of being in position and making it as challenging for them as possible,” Dillon said. “It was off our defense, rebounding the ball, getting down the floor, and [Bascoe] finding a person for some easy buckets.”

Going into the locker room, the Pilots went 36.4% for field goals and 28.6% for threes, compared to a Villanova team shooting 43.8% for field goals and 30.0% behind the arc. 

In the second half, Portland came out stronger, and cut the game to five at one point while Villanova was slow to get into its offense. But the Pilots struggled to stop Bascoe, who went on a 16-point scoring brigade throughout the half.  

“ [Bascoe] has the ability to handle the basketball the way she does, with whatever pressure and pass to an open play,” Dillon said. “Her court vision is tremendous and she just has that scoring ability. It’s really hard to stop.”

In the fourth quarter, graduate guards Maddie Burke, Bronaugh Power-Cassidy, and Edmanson, along with senior guards Jaliyah Green and Orihel, played their final minutes in the Finn, earning a standing ovation from the crowd as they checked out for one last at home.

“We had our senior night a month ago and celebrated that win there,” Dillon said. “But to continue to play and know it is the absolute last time you can be playing back home, for [the seniors] to take advantage and [the younger players] to play for them, I couldn’t be happier.” 

By the end of the game, Portland turned the ball over 20 times, resulting in 19 points off turnovers for Villanova.

Villanova went 45.2% and 26.3% from behind the arc, while Portland finished at 38.5% for field goals and 31.3% for threes.

“This was really big,” Bascoe said. “We have so many girls that this was their last home game and so just knowing that we want to keep going for them. This was a big accomplishment, so we wanted to get this done.”

Heading into the semifinals of the WBIT, Villanova will travel to Indianapolis, Indiana to face off against Belmont in the Hinkle Fieldhouse on Monday, March 31. 

Tip-off is set for 7:00 pm and the game will be televised on ESPNU.