By Mel Greenberg @womhoopsgurux
VILLANOVA – In the only local game on Tuesday’s schedule, a second straight night of limited activity also on the national card, Villanova was back at the second helpings portion of the Big East schedule here at home in Finneran Pavilion where the Wildcats (16-5, 9-3) got off to another slow start but unlike getting swallowed Saturday at St. Johns they got their own digestive system adjusted with some torrid three-point shooting from freshman Brooke Bender off the bench behind leading scorer Jasmine Bascoe to take an 85-58 sweep of Providence (10-12, 3-8) and move a half-game ahead in second place behind No. 1 UConn, the remaining unbeaten team in the nation.
In the second go-round against the two teams, Villanova had dominated both in their first meetings.
Wildcats’ veteran coach and alum Denise Dillon alluded to the quirks that come with a roster still filled with a good portion of youth navigating conference play.
“In the second time, everybody knows everything about each other and makes adjustments,” she said alluding to the team getting a bit stunned off St. John’s start but then saying her group handled the start here much better.
For one, the assists on shots were more plentiful with Brynn Curry and Denae Carter each getting five of the 22 against the Friars.
“We talk about moving the ball, and it's a much better number today,” Dillon said. “We had only 9 assists in the game at St. John's and that's not Villanova basketball.
“I was happy that what we said in practice, they heard and moved the ball a little better. When you're moving the ball and getting uncontested shots, it makes it a lot easier out on the court.”
Villanova connected in a season high 15-of-34 from distance, also the most given up by Providence.
“We talked this week about having those shooters, we just got to do a better job of finding them,” Dillon said. “You've got to continue to take the shot when it's open and just feel good about it.”
That was the case with Bender, who had a career night with a perfect 6-for-6 beyond the arc for all 18 of her points in 19 minutes.
“I've been working on my shot all week, have the confidence and finding that again,” Bender said. “Just working on it all week and having the trust in myself that I was going to make those shots.”
“They found me, got me the ball in transition, inside out, they're doing a really good job of finding our shooters, and that was evident in this scheme,” Bender said.
‘Nova came out of a tight 40-35 lead at the half, which got even closer on an opening three from the Friars’ Orlagh Gormley, and then the Wildcats answered with a 12-0 run paced by a pair of 3-pointers from freshman Kennedy Henry and stayed in front the rest of the way.
Bascoe and Providence’s Sabou Gueye tied for game honors with 22 points each, Henry shooting 4-of-8 from beyond the arc, scored 16, and Brynn McCurry scored 11 with her first perfect night from the floor this season shooting 5-for-5.
The Wildcats, who had an easy night with DePaul earlier in Chicago, hosts the Blue Demons Saturday at 2 p.m. (ESPN+).
On Monday, there was just one local game, also, Rutgers (9-11, 1-8) at home falling 76-48 to No. 25 Washington (16-4, 6-3) in a Big Ten contest.
The Scarlet Knights’ lone conference win was a narrow victory on the road at Penn State, which is still winless in the Big Ten.
Freshman Brynn McGaughy scored 17 points for the Huskies of the Northwest, Avery Howell added 16 points, while Sayvia Sellers scored 11 and Yulia Grabovskaia had 17 rebounds.
Washington dominated the boards 51-30 and the paint 36-14.
Rutgers’ Kaylah Ivey and Imani Lester each scored 14 points and Lauryn Swann scored 11.
Looking Ahead Locally
The slate gets heavier Wednesday, Saint Joseph’s looking for a local A-10 sweep, is at La Salle at 6:30 p.m., (ESPN+), Temple off its two comeback wins last week is at Rice in an American Conference game at 8 p.m. (ESPN+), in the Big Ten, Rutgers, still home at Jersey Mike’s Arena in Piscataway, N.J., hosts Oregon at 7 p.m. (BTN), while Penn State State hosts Minnesota at 6 p.m. (B1G+) in Rec Hall, and in the Patriot League, Lafayette in a game moved from Monday due to snowstorm Fern, hosts Bucknell at 4:30 p.m. (CBSSN) in the Kirby Sports Arena in Easton, Pa., while nearby Lehigh hosts Army at 6 p.m. (ESPN+) in the Stabler Arena in Esston.
The National Scene
In Monday’s only game among ranked teams, No. 6 LSU (19-2, 5-2) broke away at home in Baton Rouge in the second half to win 89-60 against Florida (13-9, 1-6) as MiLaysia Fulwiley scored 15 points, Amiya Joiner scored 14, and Mikaylah Williams scored 12 in the Southeastern Conference.
The Tigers next host Arkansas Thursday.
On Tuesday, just two ranked teams played, both in the Big 12.
No. 14 Baylor (19-3, 8-12) held off a Houston rally to win 82-66 over the Cougars (6-14, 0-9) at home in Waco, Texas, as Darianna Littlepage-Buggs scored 25 points, and Bella Fontleroy had 17 points and 12 rebounds.
The Bears next visit No. 22 West Virginia Sunday in Morgantown.
The Mountaineers (17-5, 7-3) will be returning home from a 71-64 upset loss at Utah (15-6, 6-3) in Salt Lake City.
The Utes were led by LA Sneed with with 15 points while Reese Ross had 12 points and 10 rebounds. The winners were in front wire-to-wire.
Jordan Harrison scored 18 points with eight assists for West Virginia.
Utah is at nearby BYU Saturday in Ogden.
On Wednesday, Washington is at No. 16 Maryland in College Park at 7 p.m. (B1G+) in the Big Ten, while No. 2 UCLA is at Illinois on the same network at 7 p.m.
In the Big East, unbeaten and defending champion UConn (21-0), the nation’s No. 1 team, hosts Xavier at 8 p.m. (Peacock). St. John’s is at Creighton in Omaha, Neb., at 7 p.m. (ESPN+).
No. 21 Texas Tech at home in Fort Worth hosts a Big 12 contest against Iowa State at 7 p.m.
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