VILLANOVA, PA. – In women's basketball action on Sunday afternoon, the Villanova Wildcats tallied their seventh-straight home win with a 73-65 victory over the visiting Butler Bulldogs. With the win, Villanova improves to 15-4 overall and 8-2 in BIG EAST play, while Butler falls to 8-11 on the year and 2-7 in league play.

Butler started fast connecting on four of its first six shots to take an early 13-4 lead. Following the first quarter media timeout, the Wildcats closed the period on a 12-1 run to lead 16-14 after one quarter of play.

A pull-up jumper by sophomore guard Jasmine Bascoe gave Villanova its largest lead of the first half at 25-16 with 5:07 to play in the second quarter. With momentum on the Wildcats side, Butler was able to answer back with six straight points to cut the lead to 27-24.

After a Bascoe lay-up gave Villanova a 31-26 advantage, Butler closed the half on a 7-0 spurt to take a 33-31 lead into halftime. Mallory Miller led the Bulldog charge scoring five of the seven points.

Miller was outstanding in the opening half, scoring 16 of Butler's 33 points. Bascoe led the way for Villanova in the first 20 minutes with 11 points.

Villanova led 50-46 late in the third quarter, when the Wildcats scored five of the last seven points of the period to lead 55-48 after three. Wildcat forward Denae Carter accounted for all five points on a three-point play and a reverse lay-up.

The Wildcats scored seven of the first 10 points of the fourth quarter to open-up a 62-51 lead. Three different Wildcats scored in the opening surge highlighted by a three-ball from senior Ryanne Allen.

Two free throws by Butler's Mallory Miller sliced the Villanova lead to 62-54, before Villanova took control of the game for good. Villanova scored five straight points on two free throws by Bascoe, a foul shot from freshman guard MD Ntambue and an offensive rebound putback from Allen. The Allen basket gave her team a 67-54 lead with 2:47 remaining in the game.

Bascoe led the Wildcats in the win with 22 points, while Carter had 15 points. Allen and Bryann McCurry also reached double figures with 12 points each.
Butler was paced by Miller who had a game-high 25 points. She was 9-of-11 from the field.

For the game, Villanova was 27-of-62 from the field (43.5%), 4-of-19 from three-point range (21.1%) and 15-of-18 from the foul line (83.3%), while Butler shot 60.5 percent from the floor (26-of-43), 57.1 percent from downtown (4-of-7) and 75.0 percent from the charity stripe (9-of-12). Villanova forced 31 Butler turnovers.

Villanova returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 24, with a road game at St. John's.