On Tuesday, Jan. 27, the Villanova Wildcats defeated Providence (10-12, 3-8 Big East), 83-68, at the Finneran Pavilion. Villanova is now 16-5 for the season and extended its home win streak to eight games.
The Finneran Pavilion celebrated its Pink Out game in honor of Play4Kay, a fundraising initiative for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.
In the Big East, Villanova is 9-3 compared to the Friars’ 4-7 conference record. The Friars dropped another away game, continuing their 1-6 losing record on the road.
The sophomore guard Jasmine Bascoe scored a game-high 22 points and managed six assists for her teammates. Despite not scoring until nearly two minutes into the game, the ‘Cats went on a 12-0 scoring run in the second quarter. Villanova was up by five points at halftime after Bascoe put up a last-minute layup. Villanova headed into the locker room with a 40-35 lead over Providence.
“I mean, the other day I think we only had nine assists in the game, that’s not building over basketball,” head coach Denise Dillon said. “When you’re moving the ball and getting on contested shots, it makes it a lot easier out on the court.”
The ‘Cats shot 44.1% from beyond the arc, with 6 of their 15 three-pointers coming in the first quarter alone. Freshman guard Kennedy Henry sank four-three pointers to reach 16 points. Freshman forward Brooke Bender shot 6-for-8 (75%) from beyond the arc to total a career-high 18 points.
“I just tried to do my best in the minutes I’m out there, and I’m really grateful for every minute that I do get,” Bender said. “They’re doing a really good job of finding our shooters, and that was really evident in this game.”
Senior forward Denae Carter led the team in rebounds, grabbing seven for the night. With seven minutes left in the third quarter, Carter received her third foul and was out until there was 6:07 left in the fourth. Redshirt sophomore forward Brynn McCurry also put up 11 points and grabbed six rebounds.
“What we tried to explain to this group, like saying, yes, we played these teams once,” Dillon said. “It’s not going to be the same scale. You’ve got to get into your minds, it’s going to be a possession game. We’re too familiar now with each other.”
The ‘Cats managed 32 points off the bench, 18 of them being from Bender. Senior guard Ryanne Allen added seven and sophomore guard Dani Ceseretti had five. Villanova shot 100% behind the free throw line and went 33-for-65 (51%) on field goal attempts.
“[Ceseretti’s] strength is on the defensive end,” Dillon said. The effort and time she’s put in on offense, you just see her growth and her ability. I know it’s there. She just had a feel of herself. We started her in the second half just to generate some of that energy we needed…she’s locked into what needs to be done.”
Villanova held the Friars’ best scorers, fifth-year guard Sabou Gueye and sophomore guard Orlagh Gormley, to only 31 points. Gueye reached 22 points, and Gormley had nine. The only other Providence player to accomplish double-digit points was fifth-year forward Teneisia Brown, who added 14 points.
Villanova is now scheduled to host DePaul (5-17, 2-9 Big East) on Saturday, Jan. 31 (2 p.m., ESPN+). This will be their second meeting of the season, Villanova beat them in Chicago, 81-48. (ESPN+).
