The Guru’s WBIT Report: Villanova and Saint Joseph’s Win and Meet Thursday With a WBIT Trip to the Finals at Stake; Complete Results Under the Report

Guru note: the text version of the bracket is at the end of this report:

By Mel Greenberg @womhoopsguru

VILLANOVA, Pa. — Holy Smokes! The Holy War rivalry in the Big 5 between Villanova and Saint Joseph’s is about to be featured in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA’s inaugural 32-team Women’s Basketball Invitational Tournament and the winner gets to move on to the Final Four next week in Indianapolis.

The two local Big 5 programs stayed alive Sunday afternoon in separate ways.

Villanova, one of the top seeds in the field, at home here in Finneran Pavilion, rode the Lucy Olsen scoring machine that delivered a 30–point performance, the tenth time this season she has reached that total or topped it, to an easy 73-55 win over Virginia (16-16) of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

A few hours later third-seeded Saint Joseph’s, which was sent West to California at Berkeley after dispatching Seton Hall on Hawk Hill Thursday, held on aided by Chloe Welch hitting 3-4 from the line in the last 17 seconds mixed with Mackenzie Smith’s block of a Marta Suarez three-point attempt at the very finish for a 63-61 victory.

The Hawks (28-5), who have set a program record for wins, had built a 10-point lead late in the game over the Golden Bears (19-15), who will be departing the imploding Pac-12 Conference for the ACC next season.

Penn State, which also has a top seed, will look to be part of the quarterfinals Monday night when the Lady Lions of the Big Ten host the Missouri Valley’s Belmont at 6 p.m. on ESPN+.

The four games that determine who gets tickets to Indy and Butler’s Hinkle Fieldhouse will be played Thursday night and after traveling coast-to-coast Saint Joseph’s takes the very short trip up Montgomery Avenue to Villanova for the tipoff at 7 p.m. on ESPN+, which is airing the first three rounds.

The semifinals next Monday in the afternoon are on ESPNU and the championship on Wednesday airs at 7 p.m. on ESPN2.

Last December Saint Joseph’s ended a long frustration beating the Wildcats (20-12) in Hagan Arena 73-67 to go on to a 4-0 sweep of the Big 5.

A week ago, ‘Nova's failure to advance another round in the Big East and Saint Joseph’s upset loss to Rhode Island in the Atlantic Ten quarterfinals resulted in both teams just missing the NCAA 68-team field, which completes second round action Monday night.

In the game here, Olsen, who moved past current Richmond assistant Alex Louin into the top ten on the program career scoring chart, hit a make from deep at the outset and scored a flurry more points to get the Wildcats off to a fast start and she ended up collecting 14 of the ‘Cats’ 17 points in the first quarter.

“I just want to do whatever I have to win,” she said. “Score\\, dish it out, if I have to score points to win, I'll score. That's fun too.”

Olsen shot 12-23 from the field and dished four assists. Bella Runyan had 15 points with eight boards, and Christina Dulce had 15 rebounds. 

Virginia’s Camryn Taylor and talented freshman Kymora Johnson each scored 12 points.

The Wildcats have a star freshman in Maddie Webber, who was sidelined with a lower body injury suffered in Thursday’s win over VCU, another high seeded team upset early in the A-10 tourney.

“It's tough to see and I hate to see a player go out,” said Villanova coach Denise Dillon. “We need to find out what she's dealing with.”

However, Brynn McCurry, another newcomer, who saw more action recently after hampered by an injury, had 10 points and five rebounds.

Virginia coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton spoke of the frustration trying to defend Olsen.

“Lucy Olsen is a phenomenal talent, and we knew that coming in,” she said.  “She had her way with us. She's a great player, she showed up, and she just willed her team to win.

“She's a three-level scorer and she really got hot from three. When we started chasing out on her further, she got to her mid range, which is really what she wants to do.

“Great players show up at times and she really showed up. We just had a hard time guarding her.”

The Virginia coach was hired last season to restore the Cavaliers to the glory days of the backcourt duo of North Philadelphia’s Dawn Staley and Tammi Reiss.

Staley’s unbeaten South Carolina squad blitzed its way in the first two rounds of the NCAA opening weekend and Reiss has built Rhode Island into a force.

Leading 36-20 at the half, the Wildcats yielded eight of the first ten points of the third period as the lead shrunk to ten, but then they answered the Cavaliers rally and surged to a 54-34 lead.

It was Villanova’s first meeting with Virginia since December 1988, when Staley was a rookie.

The Wildcats are playing more to their better showing during the season.

“Every game could be our last,” Olsen said. “So, we are coming out every day, hoping to play one more and especially having home games, it's been super fun because we don't want it to end, and the environment is awesome. We just want to keep going.”

The four top seeds who were the first four out of the NCAA field were guaranteed three home games if they advanced.

Villanova was just as impressive on the defensive end.

“We always put a huge emphasis in the defensive end,” said Villanova's Zanai Jones. “It's essential to us. We knew they were going to come out and try to go to the basket. We were just bringing it up front and keep containing every one. I think we did an excellent job of that.”

Villanova owned the boards 42-28.

“I thought the biggest thing was the rebounding, we won the battle of the boards, and that was a collective effort,” Dillon said. “Everybody that mentality of getting after the boards and it was a one and done mentality.”

Despite the new event, created for equivalency with the NCAA operating the men’s NIT, the traditional other tourney, the WNIT, is continuing but with a reduced field from 64 to 48 teams.

Schools have had to bid for home games in the WNIT but the NCAA is covering costs in travel for parties of 25, though the Hawks flew commercial to the Golden State.

Dillon, who won a WNIT with Drexel and been involved with many said the WBIT has a closer feel to NCAA structure.

“It definitely does,” Dillon said. “I would say just the set up, the committee that we’re dealing with, the schedule with 32 teams so you just have the feel every game feels like a championship game.

“The preparation is high and having the home games is key. I’m really pleased with the Villanova community coming out and supporting us and we have another chance at home Thursday night.”

Saint Joseph’s two games were nail-biters late, especially Sunday, but the Hawks have returned to using their assets such as superior foul shooting to prevail.

The Hawks outscored the Bears in each of the first three quarters for a 47-40 lead.

Laura Ziegler and Welch each scored 19 points, Ziegler had eight boards, Welch was 5-8 from the line and the two combined for all five three-point shots made.

Talya Brugler had 11 points and nine boards, and Smith scored 10.

Cal’s Suarez had 20 points and 13 boards, while Leilani McIntosh and 

  Joanna Krimil each scored 10.

“Heck of a game,” said veteran Hawks coach Cindy Griffith. “We came out here with the mentality we were going to play a very good team, an older team, we’re still young in some areas.”

Ziegler sees this tournament as a builder for the future.

“I think it’s great. The goal is getting to the NCAA tournament every year, so getting this experience is good because we have a lot of the same players back next year.”

Added Brugler, “We deserve to be here and winning just proves how good we are.”

There is going to be a bit of a crowded sports calendar Thursday with the Phillies opening in the afternoon and also students are on spring break.

But there are reasons to attend Thursday since the game serves as a dress rehearsal with two locals for next season and the women joining the men from this season in placing the Big 5 in a tournament format versus the traditional round robin, especially because the Saint Joseph’s and Villanova women will be in the same pod.

Furthermore, it’s the kind of event the WNBA will look at in planning for expansion in terms of fan support for all women’s basketball.

WBIT RESULTS/SKED

(Thurs-Sun. results/Round 3 Schedule)

(Will be updated with Monday’s Round 2 Penn State Result)

(Round 3 in the PSU quad will be at a No.1 PSU or No. 2 Miss. State)

 

VILLANOVA QUAD

FIRST ROUND (Thurs: 3-21-24 ESPN+)

7 p.m.

VCU (26-6F) at No.1 Villanova (19-12) W:75-60

7 p.m.

High Point (20-112F) at No. 4 Virginia (16-15) W:81-59

 

SECOND ROUND (Sun: 3-24-24 ESPN+)

2 p.m.

No. 4 Virginia (16-16F) at No. 1 Villanova (20-13) W:73-55

 

FIRST ROUND (Thurs: 3-21-24 ESPN+)

7 p.m.

Seton Hall (17-15F) at No. 3 Saint Joseph’s (27-5) W:54-47

10 p.m.

Hawaii (20-11F) at No. 2 California (19-14) W:65-60

 

SECOND ROUND (Sun: 3-24-24 ESPN+)

4 p.m.

No. 3 Saint Joseph’s (28-5) W:63-61 at No. 2 California (19-15F) 

 

THIRD ROUND (THURS: 3-28-28 ESPN+)

7 p.m.

No. 3 Saint Joseph’s (28-5) at No. 1 Villanova (20-13)

 

 

PENN STATE QUAD

 

FIRST ROUND (Thurs: 3-21-24 ESPN+)

6 p.m.

George Mason (23-8) at No. 1 Penn State (20-12) W:84-80 ovt.

4 p.m.

Belmont (26-8) W: 77-59 at No. 4 Ball State (28-6F)

 

SECOND ROUND (Mon: 3-25-24 ESPN+)

6 p.m.

Belmont (26-8) at No. 1Penn State (20-12)

 

FIRST ROUND (Thurs: 3-21-24 ESPN+)

7:30 p.m.

North Texas (23-9F) at No. 3 TCU (21-11) W:67-58

7:30 p.m.

Georgia Tech (17-16) at No. 2 Mississippi State (22-11) W:84-47

 

SECOND ROUND (Sun: 3-24-24 ESPN+)

3 p.m.

No. 3 TCU (21-12F) at No. 2 Mississippi State (23-11) W: 68-61

 

THIRD ROUND (Thurs: 3-28-24 ESPN+)

TBA

No. 2 Mississippi State (23-11). vs Belmont or at No. 1 Penn State

 

JAMES MADISON QUAD

 

FIRST ROUND (Thurs: 3-21-24 ESPN+)

7 p.m.

Stony Brook (28-4) W:81-70 at No. 1 James Madison (23-12F)

7 p.m.

Missouri State (23-10F) at No. 4 Illinois (15-15) W:74-69

 

SECOND ROUND (Sun: 3-24-24 ESPN+)

3 p.m.

Stony Brook (28-5F) at No. 4 Illinois (16-15) W:79-62

 

FIRST ROUND (Thurs: 3-21-24 ESPN+)

7:30 p.m.

Arkansas (18-15F) at No. 3 Tulsa (24-9) W:80-62

10 p.m.

Georgetown (23-11) W:64-56 at No. 2 Washington (16-15F)

 

SECOND ROUND (Sun: 3-24-24 ESPN+)

3 p.m.

Georgetown (23-12F) at No. 3 Tulsa (25-9) W:73-61

 

THIRD ROUND (Thurs: 3-28-24 ESPN+)

7:30 p.m.

No. 4 Illinois (16-15) at No. 3 Tulsa (25-9)

 

WASHINGTON STATE QUAD

9 p.m.

FIRST ROUND (Thurs: 3-21-24 ESPN+)

9 p.m.

Lamar (24-7F) at No. 1 Washington State (19-14) W:66-46

9 p.m.

BYU (16-17) at No. 4 Santa Clara (25-8) W:60-59

 

SECOND ROUND (Sun: 3-24-24 ESPN+)

4 p.m.

No. 4 Santa Clara (25-9F) at No. 1 Washington State (20-14) W:73-47

 

FIRST ROUND (Thurs: 3-21-24 ESPN+)

7 p.m.

St. John’s (18-14) W:79-60 at No. 3 Florida (16-16F)

7 p.m.

Cleveland State (29-6F) at No. 2 Toledo (27-5) W:76-68

 

SECOND ROUND (Sun: 3-24-24 ESPN+)

2 p.m.

St. John’s (18-15F) at No. 2 Toledo (28-5) W:72-71

 

THIRD ROUND (Thurs: 3-28-24 ESPN+)

9 p.m.

No.2 Toledo (28-5) at No. 1 Washington State (20-14)

 

NATIONAL SEMIFINALS

Monday, April 1

Hinkle Fieldhouse

Indianapolis, Indiana

2:30 p.m. ESPNU

No. 3 Saint Joseph’s or No. Villanova vs. No. 1 Penn State or Belmont or Mississippi State

4:30 p.m. ESPNU 

No. 2 Toledo or No. 1 Washington State vs. No. 4 Illinois or No. 3 Tulsa

 

Championship

Wednesday, April 3

7 p.m. ESPN2

Semifinal Winners