In a tightly contested matchup, the Villanova Wildcats lost to the James Madison Dukes 71-67, dropping their record to 6-6. Villanova was ahead at various points in the game, including a 58-48 lead in the third quarter, but James Madison mounted a late comeback. Key performances came from Maddie Webber, who scored 16 points, and Maddie Burke with 15 points. The Dukes leveraged their resilience in the final moments to clinch the victory with a late layup. The Wildcats now turn their focus toward an upcoming game against St. John's in the BIG EAST opener.

By the Numbers
  • Villanova shot 40.3% from the field (25-of-62) and 29.2% from three (7-of-24).
  • James Madison recorded a 41.8% shooting percentage (28-of-67) and dominated the boards, out-rebounding Villanova 43-34.
Yes, But

Despite strong efforts in the early game, Villanova struggled to maintain their lead in the fourth quarter. Key turnovers and failed shots in the closing moments allowed James Madison to capitalize and snatch victory from the Wildcats.

State of Play
  • Villanova's record now stands at 3-2 at home this season.
  • The Wildcats had four players scoring in double figures for the second consecutive game.
What's Next

Villanova will face the St. John's Red Storm on Saturday, December 21, in their BIG EAST opener, aiming to improve their performance and record.

Bottom Line

The Wildcats need to address late-game execution to avoid repeating this narrow loss, focusing on maintaining composure in critical moments as they prepare for upcoming conference play.