On Thursday, Oct. 30, Villanova women’s basketball took down Fairleigh Dickinson University in a 57-37 win in Hockensock, NJ.
Villanova got in its final dress rehearsal before the start of the 2025-26 season against FDU, coached by former Villanova basketball player Stephanie Gaitley (‘83).
The Wildcats jumped out to a double-digit lead to end the first quarter and held it for the remainder of the contest. FDU struggled, shooting just 26% from the field against Villanova’s defense.
The Wildcats finished the game shooting 41.7% (25-60) from the field and 30.4% (7-23) from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, the Knights shot 25% (14-56) and 13% (3-23) on three-pointers.
Villanova senior forward Denae Carter played 21 minutes and tied a team-high 10 points, shooting 5-10 (50%) from the field. Carter also totaled a team-high in blocks (five) and rebounds (six).
Junior forward Brynn McCurry poured in 10 points, five rebounds and three assists in her second game of action since returning from an ACL tear that forced her to miss the entire 2024-25 season.
Villanova head coach Denise Dillon spread minutes across her lineup, with no player playing more than 25 minutes. Standout sophomore guard Jasmine Bascoe left the game two minutes into the second half, finishing with seven points and three rebounds.
In the first quarter, both defenses controlled the game. Villanova shot 36.4% (8-22) from the field in the opening 10 minutes.
FDU made one field goal in the second quarter on 14 attempts. The Knights finished the first half with 13 points and a mere four field goals on 29 attempts.
Villanova led FDU at the half, 30-13. Bascoe led the Wildcats with seven points.
Sophomore guard Dani Ceseretti was in Villanova’s starting lineup for the first time in her collegiate career. She shot 2-3 (66.7%) on field goals and 2-2 (100%) on three-pointers, totaling six points.
The Wildcats put together an efficient third quarter, shooting 61.5% from the field and 33.3% on three-pointers in the third quarter. It corrected a slow start to the second half in their scrimmage against Towson on Oct. 24.
Against Towson, Villanova shot 26.3% (5-19) from the field and 0% (0-5) from beyond the arc.
Sophomore guard Rachel Wirts aided the quarter with four points. Wirts finished with six points and tied a team-high six rebounds in 16 minutes.
Wirts’ layup off an assist from McCurry in the fourth quarter stretched Villanova’s lead to a game-high 24 points with four minutes left to play.
FDU put together consecutive scoring possessions in the fourth quarter, but it was not enough to erase a double-digit deficit. However, sophomore guard Kailee McDonald was FDU’s lone double-digit scorer, with 14 points, shooting 5-10 (50%) from the field.
The Wildcats were without graduate forward Kylee Watson, who was a healthy scratch due to load management. She increases her workload for her return to action after an ACL tear in March 2024. Senior guard Ryanne Allen also missed action again as she recovers from a knee injury.
Villanova now prepares to open its 2025-25 season at home against Lafayette University on Monday, Nov. 3 (7:00 p.m., ESPN+). The last time the two programs met was on Nov. 24, 2013, which ended in a 60-33 Villanova victory. The Wildcats lead the all-time series, 6-1.
