VILLANOVA, PA. – The Villanova Wildcats returned home on Tuesday evening where they registered an 83-68 win over the visiting Providence College Friars. With the victory, Villanova improves to 16-5 overall and 9-3 in BIG EAST play, while Providence falls to 10-12 on the year and 3-8 in league action.
Offense was the name of the game in the opening quarter, as both teams connected on 7-of-15 from the field for 46.7 percent. The difference was six of Villanova's seven field goals were from behind the arc.
Sophomore guard Jasmine Bascoe led the way for the Wildcats in the first quarter with eight points, while Sabou Gueye tallied eight points for the Friars.
After back-to-back three-point field goals by Brooke Bender and Kennedy Henry that gave the Wildcats a 26-19 lead early in the second quarter, the Friars went on a 14-3 run to take a 33-29 advantage.
Villanova took back the momentum from Providence and finished the half on an 11-2 spurt to take a 40-35 lead into halftime. Senior Ryanne Allen started the run with a lay-up and a three-ball from straightaway.
Friar guard Orlagh Gormley connected on a three to start the second half and make it a 40-38 game, before Villanova went on a decisive 12-0 run to take a 52-38 advantage. Henry highlighted the run with two triples.
The Wildcats used the early third quarter spurt to control play throughout the period and lead 65-53 entering the fourth quarter.
A Bender three-ball gave Villanova its largest lead of the game at 72-55 with 8:27 to play in the game. From that point on, Providence would not get within 12 the rest of the way and the Wildcats cruised to the victory.
In the win, Bascoe led Villanova with 22 points to go with six assists and two steals. Bender had a career-high 18 points, including a career-best six three-point field goals. Henry added 16 points, while Brynn McCurry chipped in with 11 points, six rebounds and five assists.
Providence was paced by Gueye with 22 points and Teneisia Brown who had 14 points.
For the game, Villanova was 33-of-65 from the field (50.8%), 15-of-34 from three-point range (44.1%) and 2-of-2 from the foul line, while the Friars shot 50.0 percent from the floor
(28-of-56), 36.4 percent from behind the arc (4-of-11) and 47.1 percent from the charity stripe (8-of-17). The Wildcats were charged with just nine turnovers.
Villanova returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 31, when the DePaul Blue Demons visit the Finneran Pavilion. Game time is set for 2 p.m.
