Villanova women top Seton Hall, 64-55, to reach Big East final against UConn

UNCASVILLE, Conn. — There were no late-game heroics for Seton Hall on Sunday, as Villanova got out to an early lead behind junior forward Maddy Siegrist’s double-double to hold on for a 64-55 semifinal win in the Big East women’s tournament at Mohegan Sun Arena.

Villanova advances to the Big East finals for the first time since 2003, when it beat Connecticut 52-48. The Huskies will be their opponents again in Monday’s 8 p.m. title game. The last time they met, the Wildcats broke the Huskies’ nine-year, 145-game winning streak in regular-season Big East games with a 72-69 upset Feb. 10.

“We made it to the championship so we’re going to play like we’re in a championship,” said graduate student forward Brianna Herlihy.

Big East player of the year Siegrist led Villanova with 24 points and 14 rebounds, her 12th double-double on the season. Three other Wildcats scored double digits, with Herlihy putting up 17 points and eight boards and sophomore forward Lior Garzon chipped in 13. Freshman guard Lucy Olsen continued to impress, adding 10 points and four assists.

Leading the way for the Pirates was 5-foot-6 guard Lauren Park-Lane, who had 24 points.

Both Villanova and Seton Hall struggled to establish an offensive rhythm early on. After four missed possessions, Garzon — the 2022 Big East Most Improved Player — hit a three-pointer three minutes into the first quarter. The Wildcats and Pirates played an even game in the first frame, with three lead changes. A 12-2 run late in the first helped the Wildcats to a 23-12 lead.

But then Villanova seemed to take its foot off the gas. The Wildcats had trouble finding the basket in the second quarter, shooting 25%, compared to 56.3% in the first. The Pirates outscored the Wildcats 9-7 in the second period, but Villanova held onto a 30-21 lead going into the half. It was the Wildcats’ lowest-scoring quarter since Dec. 5, when Creighton held them to six points.

Villanova came out blazing in the third, going on an 11-4 run. Siegrist came alive, scoring 12 points in the quarter. A 7-0 run from the Pirates at the end of the third tightened the Wildcats’ lead to 10 going into the final frame.

“Resilience is a big thing with our team this year,” Siegrist said. “We’re not afraid to play in the close games.”

A 9-0 run in the fourth got Seton Hall within four with five minutes remaining, but a three-point dagger from Garzon iced the game with a minute to go.

As time ran out, chants of “We want Huskies” echoed throughout the arena.

Villanova’s poise unraveled in the fourth quarter as Seton Hall applied a full-court press and forced eight turnovers in the final 10 minutes. Seton Hall’s press helped cut the Wildcats’ lead to a two-possession game. Villanova finished with 18 turnovers for the game.

Against top-seeded Connecticut – which has seen the return of 2021 consensus player of the year Paige Bueckers from injury – Villanova will have to improve its ability to break the press with better spacing, crisper passes, and more urgent movement.

“When you’re being pressed like that, you need all five involved,” Villanova coach Denise Dillon said. “You couldn’t just be Lucy or Lior, and I think we’re relying a little bit too much on them.”

Villanova will face a hot UConn team in the title game. The Huskies have steamrolled Georgetown 84-38 and Marquette 71-51 in the quarterfinals and semifinals en route to the finals.