Villanova’s season ends with 66-57 loss to Belmont in WBIT semifinals
Sophomore guard Jailyn Banks scored 25 points to lead the Bruins to the championship game. Maddie Webber led Villanova with 18 points.
Villanova's Ryanne Allen (left) and Kendall Holmes of Belmont go after the ball during the second half at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
by Katie Lewis
Published
Villanova’s postseason run in the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament ended Monday afternoon with a 66-57 semifinal loss to Belmont at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Sophomore guard Maddie Webber led Villanova (21-15) with 18 points and added five rebounds. Freshman guard Jasmine Bascoe scored 10 points with a team-high five assists.
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Belmont (26-12) reached the championship game behind 25 points from sophomore guard Jailyn Banks.
The Bruins will play Minnesota for the championship at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Wednesday at 6 p.m. (ESPNU).
Villanova outrebounded Belmont, 21-19, in the first half. Junior forward Denae Carter led the Wildcats on the boards, finishing with eight rebounds.
Belmont wears down Villanova
Belmont picked up the offense in the second half, shooting 44.8% from the field and 42.9% from three. Meanwhile, Villanova was limited to just 29.7% shooting from the field in the second half.
Early in the third quarter, Bascoe sank Villanova’s only three-pointer of the half to put the Wildcats ahead, 34-31. A driving layup from Webber increased the lead to five.
The WBIT logo as starting lineups are introduced for the game between Villanova and of Belmont during a WBIT semifinal game on March 31, 2025, at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Denae Carter, left, and Maddie Burke of Villanova take the court to play Belmont in a WBIT semifinal game on March 31, 2025, at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Villanova players stand for the national anthem before their game against Belmont in a WBIT semifinal game on March 31, 2025, at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Maddie Webber, left, of Villanova is introduced as part of the starting lineup against Belmont during a WBIT semifinal game on March 31, 2025, at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Jasmine Bascoe, left, of Villanova and Kendall Holmes of Belmont go after the ball during the 2nd half of their WBIT semifinal game on March 31, 2025, at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Ryanne Allen, center, of Villanova battles for a rebound against Kendal Chessman, left, and Jailyn Banks of Belmont during the 2nd half of their WBIT semifinal game on March 31, 2025, at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Maddie Webber of Villanova goes up for a shot against Belmont during the WBIT semifinal game on March 31, 2025, at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Maddie Webber of Villanova goees up for a basket against Belmont during the 2nd half of their WBIT semifinal game on March 31, 2025, at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Ryanne Allen, left, of Villanova and Kendall Holmes of Belmont go after the ball during the 2nd half of their WBIT semifinal game on March 31, 2025, at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Denae Carter, cenrter, of Villanova and Kendal Chessman of Belmont go after a rebound during the WBIT semifinal game on March 31, 2025, at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Coach Denise Dillon of Villanova is shown througha gap in her team's huddle during their WBIT semifinal game on March 31, 2025, at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Kevin Willard, left, the news men's basketball coach at Villanova, shares a laugh with Fran Fraschilla, former coach and ESPN broadcaster, during the Villanova women's WBIT semifinal game on March 31, 2025, at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Maddie Burke, bottom, of Villanova and Tuti Jones of Belmont go after a loose ball during the 2nd half of their WBIT semifinal game on March 31, 2025, at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Maddie Burke of Villanova, who wears a protective mask from a prior injury, lays on the court i pain after a scramble for a looseball against Tuti Jones of Belmont during the 2nd half of their WBIT semifinal game on March 31, 2025, at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Coach Denise Dillon of Villanova argues the lack of a foul call against Belmont during the 2nd half of their WBIT semifinal game on March 31, 2025, at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Denae Carter, left, of Villanova and Kendal Chessman of Belmont go after a rebound during the WBIT semifinal game on March 31, 2025, at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Lara Edmanson of Villanova shoots over Belmont defenders during the 2nd half of their WBIT semifinal game on March 31, 2025, at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Jasmine Bascoe, center, and Maddie Webber of Villanova tie up Tuti Jones of Belmont during the 2nd half of their WBIT semifinal game on March 31, 2025, at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
L-R: Bronagh Power-Cassidy, Jasmine Bascoe, and Rachel Wirts of Villanova in the final moments of their loss to Belmont in a WBIT semifinal game on March 31, 2025, at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
L-R: Maddie Webber, Maddie Burke, Kaitlyn Orihel, Ryanne Allen, and Dani Cesseretti of Villanova walk off the court after their loss to Belmont in a WBIT semifinal game on March 31, 2025, at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Graduate student Maddie Burke of Villanova is hugged by her family after Villanova's loss to Belmont in the WBIT semifinal game on March 31, 2025, at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
But the Bruins reversed the lead by the end of the quarter. A basket by Banks increased Belmont’s advantage to seven, its largest lead of the game, as Villanova struggled through a nearly three-minute scoring drought to open the fourth quarter.
Belmont outscored the Wildcats, 37-26, in the second half. Banks sealed the win for the Bruins by adding a pair of free throws in the final 10 seconds. Villanova made just 6 of 29 shots (20.7%) from three-point range.
With the season at a close and five players graduating this spring, Villanova will focus its efforts on restocking the roster.
Monday marked the last collegiate game for graduate guards Maddie Burke and Bronagh Power-Cassidy, graduate forward Lara Edmanson, and senior guards Kaitlyn Orihel and Jaliyah Green.
Villanova signed three high school class of 2025 guards in November: Kennedy Henry and twin sisters Elise and Brooke Bender. Coach Denise Dillon will likely return to the transfer portal to complete the roster.
