Good Morning, Nova Nation 2/2: No Place Like Home

'Cats Sweep Weekend Action at Finneran; Improve to 20-3 At Home

February 02, 2026

The Official Newsletter of Villanova Athletics

Good Morning, Nova Nation. All those years ago, Dorothy was right… there is truly no place like home!

What all do we have in today’s edition? Check it out below!

🏀 No Place Like Home
📈 New Weekend, New Record
👟 In Good Company
🔷 And much more!

Tommy’s Tavern + Tap is proud to be an Official Partner of Villanova Athletics!

🔼 20/20 Vision. One thing’s for sure, Devin Askew likes seeing Providence on the opposing bench.

For the second time this season, Askew poured in 20 points against the Friars, leading the Villanova men’s basketball team to a 87-73 victory on Friday night at Finneran Pavilion.

The ‘Cats improve to 16-5 overall and 7-3 in league action.

Nine (9) home wins equals $9,000 for Bringing Hope Home. United Healthcare will continue to donate $1,000 to Bringing Hope Home for every home win this season! The more we win, the more Bringing Hope Home wins thanks to the generosity of United Healthcare. United Healthcare is a proud partner of Villanova Athletics.

🔼 No Place Like Home. The Villanova women’s hoops team once again enjoyed the comforts of home, rolling past DePaul on Saturday at Finneran, 69-56, for their ninth straight home victory.

Jasmine Bascoe continued her outstanding season with a game-high 27 points, while Ryanne Allen added 17 points and grabbed seven boards for Villanova.

The ‘Cats now sit at 17-5 overall and 10-3 in BIG EAST action.

🔼 New Weekend, New Record. The calendar may have read different, but the result was still the same.

It was a new day and a new record for graduate student Maria Deaviz, who threw 16.76 meters in the shot put at the Penn Invitational on Friday. It is the third time this month that Deaviz has extended her own school record. Her latest mark moves her up to No. 13 on this year's NCAA Division I performance list.

Deaviz has competed four times this season and has set or tied the Villanova record in each one.

🔼 In Good Company. Deaviz wasn’t the only member of the Villanova track & field squad putting their name in the school record books this past weekend.

Junior middle distance runner Dan Watcke ran his first big 800 meter race of the season and tallied one of the top times in school history, as well as in the nation this year. He cruised to a time of 1:46.62 at the Penn State National Open and moves up to No. 5 on this year's NCAA Division I performance list. His mark ranks third on Villanova's all-time indoor list.

Watcke now owns the top three indoor times and five of the eight fastest indoor marks in school history in the 800 meters.

What’s Ahead is brought to you by our friends at Visit Delco, the #1 source for information on all there is to see and do in Delaware County, PA. Find fantastic places to stay, incredible food and drink, and music and art—and you may even find a few surprises.

Wednesday, February 4
🎺 Jamey’s House of Music Presents:The Empty Belly Blues Band & Alabama Sam
🏀 Men’s Basketball vs. Seton Hall @ 6:30pm l Peacock
🏀 Women’s Basketball at Butler @ 7pm

Thursday, February 5
🎶 Live Entertainment at Streetlight Kitchen & Bar
🥎 Softball vs. #14 Alabama @ 3pm (Atlanta, Ga.)
🥎 Softball at Georgia Tech @ 5pm

Friday, February 6
🍷 Wine & Cheese Pairing at Penn Woods Winery
🥎 Softball vs. East Carolina @ 11am (Atlanta, Ga.)
🤽 Women’s Water Polo vs. Cal Baptist @ 1pm
🥎 Softball at Georgia Tech @ 4pm
🎾 Men’s Tennis vs. Howard @ 7pm

Saturday, February 7
🎨 The Lunar Project at the Main Line Art Center
🤽 Women’s Water Polo vs. Gannon @ 9am
🥎 Softball vs. East Carolina @ 11am (Atlanta, Ga.)
🏀 Men’s Basketball at Georgetown @ 12pm l TNT & truTV
🥍 Men’s Lacrosse at #9 Penn State @ 1pm
🥎 Softball vs. #14 Alabama @ 1:30pm (Atlanta, Ga.)
🏀 Women’s Basketball vs. Georgetown @ 2pm
🤽 Women’s Water Polo vs. Iona @ 2:30pm
🎾 Men’s Tennis vs. Wagner @ 6:30pm
👟 Track & Field at Penn Classic

Sunday, February 8
⛸️ Glice Skating at Linvilla Orchards
🎾 Women’s Tennis at Lehigh @ 11am
🤽 Women’s Water Polo vs. Harvard @ 12pm
🥍 Women’s Lacrosse vs. Towson @ 12pm

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Have a great one, Nova Nation!