Marquette’s Epic Comeback Stuns Wildcats in Thrilling Road Victory

MILWAUKEE – After leading by nine points at halftime, Villanova encountered a 21-9 scoring disadvantage in the third quarter, resulting in a 64-59 defeat against Marquette on Saturday afternoon at the Al McGuire Center.

Villanova (8-9, 2-3 BIG EAST) established a lead of as much as 13 points in the game before Marquette (11-5, 3-2 BIG EAST) surged in the third quarter. The ‘Cats achieved only four of their 11 attempts in this period, achieving a shooting percentage of 36.4% in contrast to the Golden Eagles’ 42.1% performance.

The Wildcats recorded 43.9% shooting from the floor (25-of-57) in the loss, highlighted by a 16-point performance from Maddie Webber. She made six shots, including three from beyond the arc, and gathered six rebounds. Maddie Burke contributed with 10 points.

Villanova launched an 8-0 run midway through the first quarter to secure a 12-5 advantage, capped off by a three-pointer from Webber. The Golden Eagles experienced a four-minute scoring drought following a layup by Lee Volker, which allowed the ‘Cats to further increase their lead with Bronagh Power-Cassidy scoring a layup and Ryanne Allen hitting a three, establishing a 17-7 lead for Villanova after the first.

Marquette managed to pull within single digits to commence the second quarter with baskets from Halle Vice and Jaidynn Mason, including a three-pointer that narrowed the gap to a six-point game, 17-11. Jaliyah Green accounted for all six of Villanova’s points before the media timeout of the stanza. She went coast-to-coast after grabbing a rebound, executing a strong layup in the paint, and followed with another layup nearly a minute and a half later to elevate Villanova back to a 23-16 lead with 4:54 remaining in the second. This layup ignited another scoring burst for the Blue and White, culminating in a tip-in by Power-Cassidy for a 29-16 lead. Marquette responded with a 6-2 run to finish the half, with Mason hitting a jumper just as time expired, sending the teams to the break with a score of 31-22 in favor of Villanova.

The Wildcats shot 43% from the floor in the first half, going 13-30, compared to Marquette’s 9-of-32 effort. Green led the team with eight points and six rebounds, five of those on the defensive end. Maddie Burke and Webber contributed with seven points each.

The Golden Eagles scored four rapid points in the first two minutes of the second half, with a layup by Kennedi Perkins off a steal from Lee Volker initiating an 8-0 run for Marquette that spanned the second and third quarters. Lara Edmanson halted the run with a layup, maintaining Villanova’s lead at 33-26. Vice and Olivia Porter combined for nine points over the next four minutes, closing the gap to just one point at 36-35. Bridget Utberg sank a three-pointer from the far corner, tying the game at 38 before Porter scored a go-ahead layup, granting Marquette its first lead since the first quarter at 40-38. Power-Cassidy concluded a 12-2 run for Marquette with a jumper in the last 30 seconds, keeping Villanova within three as they entered the fourth, 43-40.

The momentum remained with Marquette as the fourth quarter started, with Vice hitting a corner three and then seizing a steal that led to a layup by Mason, extending the Golden Eagles’ lead to its largest of the game at 48-40 within the first minute. Villanova narrowed the margin to three points with a catch-and-shoot three from Burke with two minutes remaining, 59-56, but that was the closest the ‘Cats would come down the stretch.

Vice led Marquette with a double-double of 20 points and 12 rebounds, while Mason followed with 14 points.

Villanova returns home on January 15 for a matchup against DePaul. The game is scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. inside the Finneran Pavilion.