The Guru’s Local/National NCAAW Roundup: Villanova Upsets No. 25 West Virginia to Stay Road Perfect at 3-0

By Mel Greenberg @womhoopsguru

The local schedule was light Monday with one game and the national slate likewise with not much more, but the story of the night was one and the same as Villanova (6-2) succeeded where Temple recently failed pulling a huge upset winning 81-59 over No. 25 West Virginia (6-2) on the road in Morgantown.

It was the second straight loss for the Mountaineers following a two-point setback 83-81 to Ohio State last Wednesday in the Baha Mar Pink Flamingo Goombay Division championship in Nassau, Bahamas, which cost West Virginia four spots sliding from 21 to 25 in Monday’s fifth Associated Press women’s poll of its 50th anniversary season.

The win enabled the Buckeyes to move in at 23rd bumping North Carolina State out from 25 after a 20-week run.

Villanova has a shot to re-enter the rankings next Monday for the first time in three seasons since the end of the Maddy Siegriest era, but the Wildcats will need to win their Big East opener Thursday at Georgetown and at home against arch-rival Saint Joseph’s Sunday (4:30 p.m.) in the Big 5 Classic championship.

In the Wildcats’ win against a former Big East era rival, sophomore Jasmine Bascoe scored 24 points and Brynn McCurry had a career-high 21 points.

Kennedy Henry and reserve Brooke Bender each scored 11 points helping Villanova to a now 3-0 road record.

Gia Cooke scored 20, including 10-10 at the line, for the home team while Kierra Wheeler had 10 points and eight boards.

Villanova shot to a 28-17 lead at the end of the first period with the two high scorers going 10-13 and Bascoe collecting 15 points.

West Virginia hosts Mercyhurst Friday.

The other game with a ranked team saw No. 20 Washington (8-0) at home in Seattle roll to an 80-54 win over San Jose State (0-6).

Sayvia Sanders scored 29 for the Huskies of the Northwest.

The Huskies of the Northeast, top-ranked UConn (7-0), the defending NCAA champions, will be at South Florida (5-3) Tuesday at 5 p.m. on ESPN2, in Tampa, the city they claimed their 12th national title in April.

They met the Bulls regularly and won every game during the time they competed together in the American Conference, of which USF is favored and in which Temple is also a member.

It’s the first meeting since South Florida longtime coach Jose Fernandez left earlier this season to coach WNBA Dallas, the team of rookie of the year and UConn alum Paige Bueckers and Siegriest and which is holding the No. 1 pick in the draft for the second straight year.

The only other ranked game Tuesday night has No. 16 Southern Cal (6-2) hosting Saint Mary’s at 10 p.m. on B1G+.

Locally, Princeton gets the threesome New Jersey series under way hosting Seton Hall at 7 p.m. on ESPN+ at Jadwin Gym. Rutgers is the other team in that trio.

Rider is at Long Island at 5 p.m.

Wednesday and Thursday nationally is the annual ACC/SEC Challenge.

Locally Wednesday, Saint Joseph’s and La Salle get Atlantic 10 play under way, the Hawks host Rhode Island at 7 p.m. at Hagan Arena and the Explorers host VCU at their John E. Glaser Arena at 6:30 p.m. both on ESPN+.

Drexel hosts American at 6 p.m. (FloCollege) at the Daskalskis Athletic Center while Lehigh hosts Cornell at 3 p.m. (ESPN+) at Stabler Arena in Bethlehem, Pa., and Lafayette visits Northeast Conference champion FDU in Teaneck, N.J., at 7 p.m. on NEC Front Row.

Besides the ‘Nova road game Thursday, Penn hosts America East contender Maine at 6 p.m. (ESPN+) at The Palestra.