BIG EAST CONFERENCE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

March 8, 2025

Denise Dillon

Jasmine Bascoe

Maddie Burke

Mohegan Sun Arena

Villanova Wildcats

Postgame Media Conference

Villanova 73, Marquette 66

THE MODERATOR: Joining us from Villanova, Head Coach Denise Dillon, student-athletes, Maddie Burke and Jasmine Bascoe. We'll begin with an opening statement from Coach.

DENISE DILLON: Well, super proud of our group getting a huge win against a great Marquette team. We battled throughout the season, and then coming down third time around here in the Big East tournament, couldn't be more pleased with being able to continue to advance our play.

THE MODERATOR: Questions for the student-athletes.

Q. Jasmine, congrats on your postseason honors. I wanted to check in with you about someone on the other team, Skylar Forbes. I know you have played together. Can you just talk about what that's like to play against someone you've played with? And did you play against her in high school at all and compete on that level?

JASMINE BASCOE: Yeah, we did play each other in high school. Only for one year, but we did. Then we played together on the national team. She was probably one of my closest friends on that team.

So, yeah, it's always funny. The girls kind of ^ CK cheer at me about it: Oh, I know her, we're the same number, both from Canada, all that stuff.

She's a great person, but when we're on the court, I'm not friends with her no more. I'm not. I'm not. Then after the game, we're in the line, we hug each other, respect each other. We lost the first game. We won the second game. We split, but, you know, she's my friend. I'm going to love her after.

Q. Jasmine, your instincts as a point guard as a freshman, to be able to come into this league and on this stage, display that kind of confidence in your game, even late, facing double teams down the stretch, what is it about your game that kind of translates to the college level so seamlessly it seems?

JASMINE BASCOE: Honestly, I think just the coaches have been very open with me about my expectations for myself and to create for the rest of the girls on the team. So just knowing that they have my back is the biggest thing.

Then coming here in the summer, Burke was very open with me right from the jump, always talking. She's always the loudest on the court. We always hear her. And off the court too. I just know I have support. I'll know where she is. Hit her for a three, everything. I just know everyone around me supports me so I don't have to lack in confidence.

Q. Maddie, you knocked down a three late. It was kind of the dagger, it seemed like, to kind of put it away. Can you speak a little bit about kind of your mindset taking that shot and not being afraid to step up?

MADDIE BURKE: Yeah, absolutely. Lar did a great job in the paint today. She brought my defender in and just hit her on the chop pass, as we call it. And I've been hitting threes all game, so I just let it fly.

We just got back on D and did our thing, so yeah.

THE MODERATOR: Ladies, thank you. Questions for Coach.

Q. So Lisa -- I'm trying to remember if I should call her maiden name or last name. Lisa Gedaka was honored today. I know she's got quite the history in Villanova's women's basketball. Can you talk about if you have a relationship with her and how it's grown over time?

DENISE DILLON: Absolutely. I think this is a great piece the Big East has brought back, honoring the legends. Talk about those who played before us and the foundation they established, and Lisa being one of the best.

I remember when I made the decision to come to Villanova, just recognizing the great players that had come before me, and Lisa Angelotti was one that I just loved because of her energy and her effort. She was everywhere.

Then I laughed. As a player when I was out on the floor and Harry would yell at me and he was, like, Oh, okay, you're playing like Lisa Angelotti.

I thought it was a compliment. But here I was trying to guard everybody on defense and guarding no one as he claimed, and apparently Lisa had that habit as well.

I thought I was in good company, but it was a little shot Harry was giving me.

But Lisa is so great for the game. Just as an alum at Villanova, what she did as a college player, but what she does now in impacting these high school players, these young women. She's been doing it for years and is so good at what she does.

Again, just watching her on the sidelines, I've learned a lot. I did as a player back in the day, but as a coach as well. So really great to see her honored today.

Q. They announced the sell-out for the first two sessions, and I get that a lot of it is UConn. On the other hand, for the conference, for people to come out and see the other teams in the conference, what does that mean? Is it a big deal? I mean, it's the first. You've been on campus sites where the crowds haven't been great. Just your feeling about having that kind of attention and getting it here and all that other stuff?

DENISE DILLON: Absolutely. Yeah, you're aware we're here in Connecticut, and of course, they're basketball fans. UConn fans are basketball fans, so they're going to come out for all the games. You appreciate that, and that's what you want. You want fans out watching.

Then it's just the creation of the game itself and the progression and what we're doing across the nation. You know, you're seeing all the growth, the numbers increasing. We've witnessed it at Villanova, and we're so appreciative of it. You put a good product out there, people are going to come and watch. Once they watch, it continues to carry.

Thanks to all of you, the media attention, and the recognition, it continues to grow. That's what we need.

Here at Mohegan Sun, they do a great job hosting. The Big East puts on a tremendous show. The representation of each and every team and wanting us to be in that national spotlight.

So we embrace it, and I think even a situation like today, a great matchup with us and Marquette, the opportunity for these fans and for the media to see the play of both teams and then just to see a young player in Jasmine. We want to see her grow and get that recognition nationally, so the Big East can continue to grow, our teams can continue to get better. And it all starts with having people out watching.

Q. Just a follow-up on Jasmine. Obviously bright future ahead. Really one of the young stars of the conference. Can you just talk about the recruiting process, how you attracted her to Villanova, and how you've seen her evolve at the college level?

DENISE DILLON: Yes. It's been a great process with Jasmine through the recruitment of her. You know, watching at a young age, getting our foot in the door with some of the Canadian players. I had a great one, Keishana Washington at Drexel, and it was the same team. Just watching along and seeing Jasmine when she was young.

We laugh about the conversation when I called her. I said, it's Coach Dillon from Villanova. And she's, like, Jalen Brunson Villanova? So she has been a fan of Villanova for longer than we all realized and always following and watching Jalen.

Then just as a true Villanovan, Jalen reached out to her and connects with her and watches her game. So it's been pretty cool just to see that piece of it.

But Jasmine, as we said, we talked to her in the summer and said, you're going to have a huge job. The expectation is there. The standard is high here at Villanova. But we could have those conversations because you knew she was up for it, just wanting to take the reins and do whatever was necessary to grow and learn.

She has a great basketball mind. She has a great work ethic. Those two things you can do a lot with, but the biggest piece is she's a tremendous teammate. She's just fun to be around. There's nothing better than to just watch someone grow and develop in all areas on and off the court. We're happy to have her at Villanova and excited to continue to be a part of the journey and see what's ahead.