Villanova Women’s Basketball Advances to Big East Championship

UNCASVILLE, Conn.—Villanova Women’s Basketball defeated the Seton Hall Pirates 62-48 at Mohegan Sun Arena on Saturday, March 8, dominating on defense and advancing to their first Big East Championship Game since 2023.

The Wildcats (25-6) began the game on a 12-0 run, forcing Seton Hall to burn their first timeout less than three minutes in and holding them to 2-of-10 shooting with seven turnovers committed in the first quarter. Sophomore guard Jasmine Bascoe (15 points) made six of 20 shots (one of three from three) in the first half, helping the rest of her team work through a 7-of-22 (2-of-13 from three) slump.

Villanova still managed to pour it on early, scoring ten straight midway through the second to extend their lead to 36-16. That triggered another Seton Hall timeout, and the Pirates managed to close the frame on a 9-0 run. The Wildcats struck back with six points in the first 77 seconds of the third quarter, forcing Seton Hall to burn its third timeout. Then it was Villanova’s turn to cool off, going more than seven minutes without scoring a point.

Seton  Hall only managed a 9-0 run out of that stretch as the Wildcats’ defense continued to excel; they allowed just 17 of 52 (32.7 percent) shots to fall on the night, including a 3-of-16 clip from beyond the arc. Junior forward Brynn McCurry took care of the scoring as the game wore on, finishing with a game-high 16 points.

The Wildcats also gave Dani Ceseretti and Brooke Bender 21 minutes apiece off the bench, helping to keep their starters fresh as they prepare for their third game in as many days.

Villanova Women’s Basketball will face No. 1 UConn at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 9 in the Big East Tournament Championship.