BRYN MAWR, Pa. (Interstat) — Villanova used a dominant third quarter to overcome Butler and secure a 73-65 women’s basketball victory Sunday at The Pavilion. The Wildcats, trailing by two at halftime, outscored the Bulldogs 24-15 in the third period to take control. Jasmine Bascoe led Villanova with 22 points and six assists. Mallory Miller scored a game-high 25 points for Butler. Villanova forced 29 turnovers, converting them into 29 points, to overcome a subpar shooting night. The Wildcats improved to 15-4 overall, while Butler fell to 8-11.

BRYN MAWR, Pa. (Interstat) — In a game defined by relentless defensive pressure and a staggering disparity in ball security, the Villanova Wildcats overcame an early offensive struggle to pull away from the Butler Bulldogs for a 73-65 victory in a Big East women’s basketball matchup Sunday afternoon at The Pavilion. The Wildcats, improving to 15-4 overall, forced 29 Butler turnovers, converting them into 29 points. That defensive havoc proved to be the decisive factor, offsetting a subpar shooting performance from the home team. Villanova connected on just 27 of 62 field goal attempts, a 43.5% clip, and was an icy 4 of 19 from three-point range. Butler, by contrast, was efficient when it secured a shot, making 26 of 43 attempts from the floor, but managed only 43 total field goal attempts due to the turnover barrage. Jasmine Bascoe led Villanova with 22 points and six assists, orchestrating the offense and spearheading the defensive effort with one of the team’s 14 steals. Denae Carter provided a crucial interior presence off the bench, scoring 15 points and grabbing four rebounds. Brynn McCurry added 12 points and five rebounds, while Ryanne Allen contributed 12 points, three rebounds and a key block. Butler, which fell to 8-11, was carried by the standout performance of Mallory Miller. The 6-foot-4 forward from Aberdeen, South Dakota, scored a game-high 25 points on 10-of-14 shooting, adding five rebounds, five assists and a block. However, her efforts were undermined by the team’s collective inability to handle Villanova’s pressure, as the Bulldogs recorded a mere two assists against their 29 turnovers. The most important part of the game unfolded in the third quarter. After a tightly contested first half that saw Villanova cling to a 31-33 lead, the Wildcats unleashed a game-changing run. They outscored Butler 24-15 in the period, fueled almost entirely by their defense. Villanova scored 12 points off seven Butler turnovers in the quarter, turning a two-point halftime edge into a 55-48 advantage heading to the fourth. The Wildcats never relinquished that momentum, maintaining at least a two-possession lead throughout the final frame. Butler started brightly, leading 14-16 after the first quarter behind eight early points from Miller. The Bulldogs still held a narrow 33-31 lead late in the second quarter before Villanova closed the half with a small surge. The Wildcats then seized control definitively with their third-quarter blitz. Kennedy Langham scored 10 points for Butler, while Saniya Jackson and Caroline Dotsey each added nine. Dotsey also had five rebounds and three assists. Villanova’s ability to get to the free-throw line and convert also proved vital. The Wildcats made 15 of 18 attempts from the stripe, while Butler attempted only 12 free throws, making nine. The attendance was 1,741. Villanova next visits St. John’s on Saturday. Butler returns home to host DePaul on Wednesday.

Preview: Butler Looks to Upset Villanova in Big East Women’s Basketball BRYN MAWR, Pa. (Interstat) — The Villanova Wildcats, ranked 21st in the nation, will look to rebound from a lopsided loss when they host the Butler Bulldogs in a Big East Conference women’s basketball game Sunday at The Pavilion. Villanova (14-4, 5-2 Big East) enters the contest after a 99-50 defeat at the hands of top-ranked Connecticut on Thursday. Prior to that, the Wildcats had won five of their last six, showcasing one of the league’s most potent offenses. They are led by guard Brynn McCurry, who is averaging 12.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. McCurry scored 20 points in a win over Providence on Jan. 11 and dished out seven assists against DePaul on Dec. 29. Butler (8-10, 3-4) snapped a three-game skid with a 62-52 home victory over Providence on Wednesday. The Bulldogs have struggled on the road this season, however, and face a steep challenge against a Villanova team with just one home loss. Butler will rely on guard Saniya Jackson, who scored 17 points in a loss at Creighton on Jan. 4 and added 13 points in the win over Providence. Forward Lily Zeinstra and guard Addison Baxter combined for 14 points and 9 assists in that victory. The matchup pits Villanova’s high-scoring attack, which averages 73.2 points per game, against a Butler defense that allows 63.2 points. The Wildcats won both meetings last season by an average of 22 points. Following this game, Villanova will travel to face Saint John’s on Jan. 24. Butler’s next contest is at home against DePaul on Jan. 21. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. EST.