Villanova Women’s Basketball Blows Double Digit Lead in Loss to Princeton

VILLANOVA, Pa. — Villanova Women’s Basketball blew a double digit second half lead on Wednesday, Nov. 12, falling 73-68 at the Finneran Pavilion to a talented Princeton team that’s made the last four NCAA Tournaments.

After leading by as much as 14 points in the third quarter, the Wildcats (2-2) missed seven straight shots over more the final 8:33 of game time, allowing Princeton to take a 70-68 lead on a Skye Belker three-pointer with just under a minute to play. Jasmine Bascoe tried to tie the game with a floating jumper but the shot missed, and Princeton made their free throws to close the Wildcats out. 

True freshman Kennedy Henry played lights out on both ends of the court in the first half, finishing her day with 13 points, five rebounds, four assists, six steals and a block. Two of those turnovers forced came on the same possession as she helped the Wildcats keep the game tied, regaining possession and setting up a go-ahead free throw from Bascoe, who led Villanova in scoring with 16 points.

Princeton began the game on a hot streak, leading 7-3 barely two minutes in, but the Wildcats’ defense tightened from there. They allowed just two shots from the field through the rest of the frame, pulling ahead 19-13.

Villanova Pulls Ahead…

Bascoe sank a three-point shot to begin the second period, then Henry poked the ball away from Belker, setting up another Bascoe bucket, this time a layup on the fast break, that pushed the Villanova lead to double digits.

The Wildcats ran cold midway through the period, allowing a 9-2 Tigers run that cut the lead to four, but Henry made plays on both ends of the court on consecutive possessions, an assist and a steal, to help Villanova take a 37-29 lead into the half.

Villanova allowed just three made field goals in the first eight minutes of the third, but Princeton converted on nine of ten free throw attempts before closing the quarter on a 6-1 run, closing the gap to 57-50 heading into the fourth. The Tigers began to play with an edge as they tried to close the deficit, racking up six fouls in the first three minutes of the final frame and successfully knocking the Wildcats off their game as they completed the comeback.

Up next, Villanova Women’s Basketball will travel to face JMU in Harrisonburg, Va., with that game set to begin at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 12.