Villanova Women’s Basketball Forces 31 Turnovers, Beats Butler

Villanova Women’s Basketball couldn’t stop Butler’s shots from falling in their 73-65 win on Sunday, Jan. 18. Their solution? They never let them make it to the basket.

The Wildcats (15-4, 8-2 Big East) forced 31 turnovers, allowing them to survive a 26-of-43 onslaught from the field. Bulldogs’ sophomore Mallory Miller made nine of 11 shots, dropping 25 points on Villanova; Jasmine Bascoe countered with 22 points and six assists.

Butler held the Wildcats off the board for four minutes in the first quarter, breaking an early tie to pull ahead 13-4. Villanova responded with a 12-1 run, taking the lead on a Dani Ceseretti three-pointer in the last minute of the frame. The Wildcats maintained pressure into the second quarter, beginning on an 11-2 run, but Butler managed to take a 33-31 lead into the half after Miller scored five points in 59 seconds to tie the game; McKenna Johnson added a layup at the buzzer to put the Bulldogs in front.

Villanova came out swinging to start the third quarter, forcing three turnovers in the first two minutes. Bascoe sank a three on the opening possession to put the Wildcats in front; she and McCurry turned turnovers into layups, a quick 7-0 run that Butler never recovered from.

Denae Carter sank a buzzer-beating two to finish the third period, then Ryanne Allen opened the fourth with a three-pointer off a Kennedy Henry steal, pushing Villanova’s lead to double digits, and giving them enough cushion to close the Bulldogs out.

Up next, Villanova will travel to face St. John’s at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 24.