Villanova women find win column after 0-2 start, handle Merrimack in 97-44 rout

Villanova women’s basketball picked up its first win of the season in commanding fashion.

After a slow start, the Wildcats used multiple double-digit scoring runs with the help of junior guard Jasmine Bascoe’s 26 points and seven assists to defeat Merrimack, 97-44, in their home opener from Finneran Pavilion.

The Wildcats shot 37-for-74 (50%) from the field and 12-for-35 (34.3%) from beyond the arc. Villanova had nine different scorers, including five with double digits.

Sophomore guard Simone Pelish had a team-high 11 rebounds off the bench along with eight points. Twin forwards EJ Bender and Brooke Bender totaled 13 and 10 points, respectively, off the bench. Villanova’s bench accounted for 39 of the team’s 97 points.

The Wildcats earned their first win of the year after opening with losses to Notre Dame and Princeton away from the Main Line.

“It’s great to be home,” head coach Denise Dillon said. “I think we kind of needed a little bit of the feel of home court and the fans. So we just felt a different energy from our group. So it was good. They came out ready to play.”

Bascoe has been a dominant force for Villanova since her first game with the program as a freshman in 2024.

She put together the sixth-best scoring performance of her collegiate career despite not playing the final eight minutes of regulation.

Bascoe is averaging 27 points per game, second in the nation only behind Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo (27.3).

“It’s tremendous,” Dillon said of Bascoe’s performance. “Obviously, when you have the best player on the floor, you feel good about that. It’s just a continued reminder, and Jazz knows. She’s trying to bring people along with her instead of trying to overcompensate.”

Bascoe is averaging a team-high 6.3 assists after her season-high seven dimes against Merrimack. She led the Big East in assists last season with an average of 4.8 per game.

“She played at a great pace... but recognizing how it’s a team sport, she needs everybody involved,” Dillon said. “She’s flipped the switch just in the last week of setting the tone defensively. Obviously, it’s flashy, and everyone loves the scoring look. However, we know defensively you’ve got to be better in order to be successful.”

While Villanova lost its first two games, it has been consistent with a positive turnover margin.

Villanova forced 29 Merrimack turnovers and capitalized by scoring 42 points off of them. The Wildcats only turned the ball over 11 times.

In its two losses, Villanova turned the ball over a total of 20 times — 13 against Notre Dame and seven against Princeton — while having 31 assists.

“Our defense has to continue to improve, and we say defense creates some offense for us, but value in the possession,” Dillon said. “So they are understanding that and taking care of the ball is a key piece. You have a great ball handler, Jasmine. So that certainly helps. They know we run a passing offense, so they’re working on making smoother passes to try and get their shooters shots.”

The lopsided score allowed Dillon to give her freshmen a chance at extended minutes.

Freshman guard Alexis Eberz was Villanova’s main ball handler after Bascoe finished her night with 7 minutes left in the game. Eberz totaled eight points, eight rebounds, and four steals.

“Exactly that, just being able to get them the experience,” Dillon said on getting the freshmen playing time. “We’re talking about practice being their game for each of our players. If they come into practice and they focus and look to get better every day, then games will become a little bit easier for them in the sense of understanding what we’re doing, why we’re trying to do it.”

Villanova will travel to Connecticut to play Fairfield (3-0) in the second game of a home-and-home (2 p.m., ESPN+) on Sunday. Last season, Villanova fell to Fairfield at home, 75-63.

“I think the Princeton game was a taste of what we’ll see against Fairfield,” Dillon said. “I think [Fairfield] might be a little more up-tempo. Obviously, this game just finished up here with us, and I’ll get on the Fairfield scout…But I’m hoping that at least this game generates some confidence and understanding of what we’re doing in order to build on.”