Villanova WBB Punches Ticket to Semifinals With Streaky Win

UNCASVILLE, CONN,— After racing out to a 14-point led in the second quarter of their Big East Tournament Quarterfinal matchup against Providence, Villanova Women’s Basketball threatened to come unraveled.

Jasmine Bascoe (31 points) powered their offense early, scoring 15 points in the first 13 minutes, while true freshman Kennedy Henry (13 points, 12 rebounds) sank a pair of first quarter threes that helped the Wildcats find their footing.

Friars’ sophomore Orlagh Gormley (19 points) cut into the Wildcats’ 30-16 lead with consecutive threes, helping to spark a 19-2 run that saw the Wildcats (24-6) make just one basket in five minutes. Another Gormley three capped the run, putting Providence in front 35-32, but Henry responded with her own triple and a Ryanne Allen and-one reestablished the Wildcats’ lead at the break.

The Friars scored the first five points out of the break, but a 6-0 run that began with a Bascoe jumper put Villanova in front for good. Providence went more than eight minutes without making a shot from the field during a dry spell that lasted into the fourth quarter, Villanova scoring 16 straight points and pushing their lead to 65-47. From there, they began to sputter again, making just one shot and committing six turnovers in the final 7:22 of play, but they had enough cushion to weather the storm.

Villanova Women’s Basketball advances to face the winner of Saturday night’s game between No. 3 Seton Hall and No. 6 St. John’s; the Wildcats will next take the court at 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 8.