In a Sunday matinee on Jan. 11, Villanova women’s basketball defeated Providence, 85-55, at Alumni Hall in Providence, RI.
Villanova (14-3, 7-1 Big East) started a new win streak with the win over Providence (9-9, 2-6). Sophomore guard Jasmine Bascoe totaled 19 points and a team-high seven assists. Villanova used the first quarter to jump out to an early double-digit lead with the help of junior forward Brynn McCurry’s team-high 20 points.
Bascoe’s 17.4 points per game rank third in the Big East and lead the team.
The Wildcats shot 47.8% from the field and 36.7% on three-pointers, while Providence was held to 36.4% on field goals and 40% from beyond the arc.
In the first quarter, Villanova started with a 9-0 scoring run, while holding Providence scoreless until 5:55 left in the period. The Wildcats shot 9-of-16 from the field and 4-of-8 from beyond the arc across the first quarter to lead Providence 24-14.
Villanova held on to the lead for the remainder of the half, scoring 11 points off nine Providence turnovers to stretch its lead. Bascoe had six of her seven assists in the first half, along with 13 points. The Wildcats led the Friars, 45-25, at the end of the second quarter.
Four minutes into the third quarter, Villanova went on an 11-2 scoring run to further pull away from a struggling Providence team.
Senior forward Denae Carter scored 2-for-2 from behind the free throw line in the first quarter and then went on to hit two jumpers. Despite being outrebounded, 39-38, Carter had a team-high eight rebounds for Villanova.
Senior guard Ryanne Allen shot 3-for-9 from beyond the arc, scoring 14 points off the bench. Allen has been Villanova’s best bench scorer, averaging 10.5 points per game through conference play.
Villanova missed threes, leading to 36.7% from behind the arc, while the Friars shot for 40%. The ‘Cats took their largest lead of 34 points with just over a minute left in the game.
Villanova will now head to Storrs, CT, for the second game of their road trip to take on the No. 1 University of Connecticut (17-0, 8-0). The game is set to tipoff at 7 p.m. (FS1).
