Jasmine Bascoe’s Unbelievable 22 Points Shatter Butler’s Hopes—You Won’t Believe the Ending!

Villanova sophomore guard Jasmine Bascoe expressed confidence following the Wildcats' 73-65 victory over Butler on Sunday at the Finneran Pavilion. Bascoe led her team with 22 points, complemented by two rebounds and six assists, helping Villanova maintain its strong position with a record of 15-4 and 8-2 in the Big East Conference.

The Wildcats entered halftime trailing 33-31, but a dominant third quarter allowed them to clinch another important conference win. This performance came on the heels of a challenging loss to No. 1 ranked UConn, where they suffered a 99-50 defeat just days prior.

“We want to be trailing UConn in the Big East,” Bascoe stated. “That’s a great spot for us going into the second half of the league [schedule], and then hopefully the Big East Tournament. ... So it’s just continuing to push through.”

In their preparations for the game, head coach Denise Dillon emphasized the need for a stronger showing after halftime. Villanova struggled in the first half, shooting only 34.4% from the field and a mere 16.7% from beyond the arc, while Butler boasted an impressive shooting percentage of 60.9% during the same period.

“[At halftime,] we just acknowledged that we weren’t playing like ourselves in the first half,” Bascoe reflected. “And to finish off the game right, we had to come out hard in the third quarter. So, you know, we drew up some plays, we intensified our defense, and then it kind of slowed down from there and we didn’t have to force any shots.”

Villanova indeed came out strong in the third quarter, launching a 7-0 run right from the start. This surge was highlighted by Bascoe’s three-pointer and a layup following a Butler turnover. Sophomore forward Dani Ceseretti assisted junior forward Brynn McCurry for another layup shortly afterward.

During the third quarter, the Wildcats outscored the Bulldogs 24-15, establishing a lead they would maintain for the remainder of the game. Graduate forward Denae Carter played a crucial role in this turnaround, contributing 11 points during the quarter and finishing the game with 15 points and four rebounds.

“This is [Carter’s] final run, and when she realizes it, it just fuels her,” Dillon noted. “There’s nothing better for this group. You can even see it in the huddle, when all of a sudden she’s like, ‘I’m ready to go.’ ... Denae is one of our top defenders, and when she’s disruptive, good things happen for us.”

Carter's determination was evident, though her game took a brief pause when she sustained a facial injury after a flagrant foul by Butler. Despite the setback, her strong performance was pivotal for Villanova.

Looking ahead, Villanova will face St. John’s (15-5, 5-4) on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET, as they continue their pursuit of a strong finish in the Big East. With their recent victory, the Wildcats have solidified their footing in the conference and look to build momentum as they head into the latter part of the season.