INDIANAPOLIS – The Villanova Wildcats traveled to Indianapolis on Wednesday evening where they registered a 67-57 win over the Butler Bulldogs. With the victory, the Wildcats improve to 18-5 overall and 11-3 in BIG EAST play, while Butler falls to 9-14 on the year and 3-10 in league action.
The first half was a defensive battle with neither team able to open-up more than a five-point lead. Villanova finished the first half connecting on 9-of-35 from the field for 25.7 percent, while Butler shot 37.9 percent on 11-of-29 shooting.
Following a three-point field goal by Butler's Anna Wypych that gave the Bulldogs a 24-19 lead at the 7:50 mark of the second quarter, neither team was able to score for the next 4:34.
Villanova sophomore guard Dani Ceseretti ended the scoreless stretch when she buried a triple from the right wing that cut the Butler advantage to 24-22. Mallory Miller made two foul shots to put the Bulldogs up 26-22, before each team added a field goal to send the teams to halftime with Butler leading 28-24.
Leading 41-39 with 2:12 to play in the third quarter, Villanova ran off five straight points to open-up a 46-39 advantage. Sophomore guard Jasmine Bascoe accounted for all five of the points on two free throws and a step back three. The Wildcats would use the momentum to lead 48-41 after three quarters of play.
The Wildcats took control of the game over the first four minutes of fourth quarter, when Villanova scored nine of the first 12 points of the period to take a 57-44 lead. Four different Wildcats scored in the stretch with senior Denae Carter tallying four points.
After the opening fourth quarter spurt, Butler would not get within single digits the rest of the game and Villanova would lead by as many as 16.
Bascoe led the way in the win with a game-high 27 points to go with five assists. Kennedy Henry and Brynn McCurry added 12 points each. Butler was paced by McKenna Johnson with 16 points.
For the game, Villanova was 27-of-64 from the field (42.2%), 6-of-20 from three-point range (30.0%) and 7-of-8 from the foul line (87.5%), while Butler shot 46.9 percent from the floor (23-of-49), 26.7 percent from long distance (4-of-15) and 70.0 percent from the charity stripe (7-of-10). Villanova was charged with just six turnovers.
Villanova returns to action on Saturday afternoon when the Georgetown Hoyas visit the Finneran Pavilion. Game time is set for 2 p.m.
