Preview: Villanova Wildcats at Seton Hall Pirates NEWARK, N.J. (Interstat) — A surging Villanova Wildcats squad looks to continue its push near the top of the Big East standings when it visits the Seton Hall Pirates on Thursday night at Prudential Center. The Wildcats (22-6, 13-4 Big East) enter on a dominant run, having won seven of their last eight games. Their most recent outing was a commanding 64-39 victory over Marquette on Sunday, where their defense held an opponent under 40 points. Villanova’s only loss in that stretch came against powerhouse Connecticut. Villanova is powered by guard Jasmine Bascoe, who has been on a sensational run. Over her last seven games, Bascoe is averaging 22.3 points and 5.7 assists, including a 26-point effort against UConn and a 27-point, 5-assist performance at Butler. Her playmaking and scoring will be central to the Wildcats’ attack. Seton Hall (18-9, 10-7), meanwhile, seeks to rebound after a narrow 59-56 home loss to Saint John’s last Sunday, which snapped a three-game winning streak. The Pirates have shown resilience this season but have struggled against the conference’s elite, including a 92-52 loss to Connecticut in January. The Pirates will rely on forward Mariana Valenzuela to provide a presence inside. Valenzuela is coming off an 11-rebound, 3-block performance against Saint John’s and recorded a double-double (13 points, 13 rebounds) in a win over DePaul on Feb. 14. Her ability to control the glass and protect the rim will be crucial against a efficient Villanova offense. In the first meeting this season, Villanova handled Seton Hall with ease, winning 72-55 at home on Dec. 19. The Wildcats have won five straight in the series. For Seton Hall, a victory would bolster its NCAA tournament resume with a quadrant-one win. For Villanova, a win is essential to keep pace near the top of the conference and solidify its seeding for March. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST. The game will be broadcast on the Big East Digital Network.