Villanova WBB Rebounds From UConn Loss; Bascoe On Playing Small

Villanova Women’s Basketball fell 90-51 in the Big East Tournament Final on Monday, March 9, making just 27 percent of their shots and 19 percent of their threes as No. 1 ranked UConn rolled to their 34th straight win this season.

20 days earlier, the Wildcats held a 40-37 halftime lead before losing to the Huskies at home, providing hope that Villanova could come away victorious in their third matchup.

“The difference was we didn’t make shots,” Villanova head coach Denise Dillon said. “Yesterday’s game we came out, hitting early. You feel good, at least you take that first punch. It was the complete opposite. We didn’t make shots, got called for a couple fouls early, just takes you out of the flow and they just set the tone from that point moving forward.”

Wildcats’ point guard and leading scorer Jasmine Bascoe (14 points, five rebounds, two assists, four turnovers) battled valiantly against the Huskies’ full-court press, somehow managing to keep her balance as she darted back and forth trying to gain an ounce of wiggle room. Once into the half court, Villanova struggled to drive into the paint, attempting just 11 layups… and with a 7-of-37 clip from three, they couldn’t free up any space by making shots on the perimeter. 

“I’m Gonna Make It Work”

Bascoe, who stands 5-foot-7, said she’s learned to face taller, aggressive teams like UConn because of her small stature.

“Yeah, it’s tough. I would just say I’m undersized to begin with, so it’s always tough. And they’re a good defensive team, and it’s a chippy game, it’s chippier than normal,” Bascoe said. 

“And we don’t always agree with some of the calls and stuff like that, but we just gotta play through it. So yeah, they work really well on defense and we’re going to keep going no matter what, get as many paint touches as we could.”

Bascoe’s brother Josh also played Division I basketball, graduating from Bucknell in 2025 as the team’s most valuable player despite a similar lack of height. Jasmine Bascoe said she learned how to adjust to her height through watching Josh play. She also learned to play with grit, making up for her lack of height with intensity.

“I’ve always been the smallest person on the court, and so I’ve gotta give a shoutout to my brother. He has also always been the smallest person on the court, so just being able to watch him growing up,” Bascoe said. 

“But yeah, it doesn’t feel like I’m tinier on the court if I’m being honest. I don’t care. You can body me, you can be physical, but I’m gonna give it right back. And so I like to have that grit and not let people think ‘oh because she’s small, she’s not gonna do anything.’ No, I don’t like playing like that.I don’t care about how tall I am, I don’t care if I’ve gotta guard a post, it’s gonna happen and I’m gonna make it work.”

Looking to the Big Dance

At 25-7, Villanova has an NCAA Tournament bid all but locked up. They’ve flown under the radar for much of this season and will likely earn a No. 8 or No. 9 seed when the selection show takes place at 8 p.m. on Sunday, March 15. After facing the Wildcats for the third time this season, Huskies’ head coach Geno Auriemma said despite their lack of national respect, their fast style of play will make them a difficult out once the tournament begins. 

“I don’t know what Villanova is gonna be seeded in the tournament, but if you’re not used to playing a team like that, you’re gonna have your hands full, I believe that with all my heart,” Auriemma said.

“I don’t know that there’s anybody that I respect more in our conference than Denise and [Associate Head Coach] Joe [Mullaney] and the entire Villanova program. And it’s a shame that they’re not given the benefit of the doubt like some other places are. I hope Villanova plays one of those 7-10 teams that might get in the tournament. I’d go pay to watch that game.”

Dillon, for her part, said the Wildcats will use the pain of coming short in the championship game as they prepare for their tournament draw, using it as another lesson in their quest to get better each and every day.

“Today is… you want to feel this, we said that to the team,” Dillon said. “You gotta recognize what it takes, to be on the other side, to win all these championships. At the same time, our group did a tremendous job this year.”