Women's Basketball Game Notes vs. Villanova

FRIARS HOST VILLANOVA IN BIG EAST MATCH-UP AT ALUMNI HALL... The Providence College women's basketball team will host Villanova in BIG EAST play on Sunday, Jan. 11 at Alumni Hall in Providence, R.I.

FAMILIAR FOE... The Friars and Villanova Wildcats have met 86 times, marking the most games against a single opponent in Providence College women's basketball history.

FRIARS VS. WILDCATS ALL-TIME... Providence and Villanova have met 86 times during the history of the two women's basketball programs. The Wildcats lead the all-time series, 56-30. The Friars have earned victories in two of the last three meetings, including the most recent game on Feb. 23, 2025. On that day, Providence earned a 63-56 win at Alumni Hall.

FRIARS VS. WILDCATS IN OVERTIME... Providence has compiled a 5-1 record vs. Villanova all-time in overtime games. The last time Providence and Villanova went to overtime was on Jan. 24, 2024 in Providence, R.I. The Friars claimed a 82-76 victory.

FRIARS AND WILDCATS ALL-TIME AT ALUMNI HALL... The Friars and Wildcats have met 41 times at Alumni Hall in Providence, R.I. Providence leads the series on its home court, 23-18. Providence has earned wins in three of the last four games played at Alumni Hall, including each of the last two meetings.

FAMILY TIES... Villanova Associate Head Coach Joe Mullaney, Jr. has ties to Providence College. He served as Head Coach for the Providence College women's basketball program for three seasons (1980-83), leading the Friars to two Northeast AIAW Regional Tournament berths (1981, 1982) and consecutive 20-win seasons. The Friars finished the 1981-82 campaign with a 25-9 record and followed with a 24-6 mark during his final season as head coach in 1982-83. He also played for three season at Providence College on the men's basketball team under Head Coach Dave Gavitt. Mullaney is the son of Friar Legend Joe Mullaney, who coached the men's basketball program for 18 seasons, compiling a 319-164 record (0.660). During that time, Mullaney led two teams to the NIT Championship in 1961 and 1963, while coaching six All-Americans. Mullaney Gymnasium is named in honor of the late Joe Mullaney, Sr. A statue of Joe Mullaney, Sr. alongside Dave Gavitt, resides on campus outside of the Ruane Friar Development Center.

GUARDS ORLAGH GORMLEY AND JASMINE BASCOE LEAD THE BIG EAST IN ASSISTS DURING REGULAR-SEASON CONFERENCE PLAY... Providence College guard Orlagh Gormley and Villanova guard Jasmine Bascoe ranked first and second, respectively, in assists per game during BIG EAST Conference regular-season play. Gormley has dished 5.50 assists per game, while Bascoe checks in at 5.29 assists per game. Additionally, Gormley ranks fourth in assist/turnover ration (2.20), while Bascoe is sixth (1.95).

HOME-SWEET-HOME... The Friars have posted a 7-4 record at home, including a 7-3 mark at Alumni Hall / Mullaney Gymnasium. The Friars are 0-1 at Amica Mutual Pavilion. When playing away from home, the Friars have posted a 2-3 record [1-2 in true road games; 1-1 at a neutral site]. Providence earned its first true road win of the season against DePaul on Jan. 4. The Friars overcame a 19-point deficit and claimed a 69-59 victory.

FRIARS SHOOT SEASON-LOW 27-PERCENT VS. SETON HALL; PIRATES RALLY IN SECOND HALF TO EARN 10-POINT WIN... In the Friars' most recent game on Jan. 8 vs. Seton Hall, Providence led by as many as nine points in the first half and took a 23-18 lead into halftime. The defense was stellar, as the Friars held Seton Hall to just four points in the first quarter. However, Providence couldn't pull away as the offense never got going. The Pirates outscored the Friars 40-25 in the second half to claim a 58-48 win. Providence shot a season-low 26.7-percent in the game (16-60). Payton Dunbar was the lone Friar to score in double figures (13), while four players managed double digits for Seton Hall.

FRIARS DEFEAT DE PAUL FOR FIRST WIN VS. BLUE DEMONS IN CHICAGO ALL-TIME... Providence overcame a 19-point deficit to defeat DePaul, 69-59, at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Ill. on Jan. 4. It marked the Friars' first victory over DePaul in Chicago, Ill. all-time. Providence entered the match-up 0-18 vs. DePaul in games played in Chicago (0-11 at McGrath Phillips Arena; 0-7 at Wintrust Arena).

FRIARS OVERCOME 19-POINT DEFICIT TO DEFEAT DE PAUL... The Friars trailed by 19 points midway through the second quarter en route to 69-59 victory against DePaul on Jan. 4 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Ill. Providence cut the deficit to 11 at halftime and outscored DePaul 37-16 in the second half to earn the 10-point victory. Sabou Gueye paced all scorers with 17 points, including 10 in the second half. Orlagh Gormley put together an impressive stat line in the win. She matched her career-high with 15 points and added five rebounds, five assists and a career-high nine steals. Providence had four players in double figures in the scoring column for the first time this season as Teneisia Brown and Sophi Hall rounded out the list with 12 and 11 points, respectively. The Blue Demons took a 43-32 lead into halftime due in large part to 69-percent shooting from three-point territory (9-13). DePaul entered the game shooting just 26-percent on the season (79-303). Providence's defense held the Blue Demons to 0-10 from beyond the arc in the second half.

FRIARS POST LARGEST COMEBACK VICTORY SINCE 2017... The Friars overcame a 19-point deficit to defeat DePaul, 69-59, on Jan. 4 in Chicago, Ill. It marks the largest comeback victory since Nov. 11, 2017, when Providence rallied from a 20-point deficit to defeat Northeastern, 98-95, in overtime.

LARGEST COMEBACK IN BIG EAST PLAY SINCE 2013... The Friars overcame a 19-point deficit to defeat DePaul, 69-59, on Jan. 4. It marks the largest comeback win in BIG EAST play since Jan. 23, 2013. On that day, the Friars rallied from a 21-point deficit to defeat Villanova, 65-60, in overtime.

MOST STEALS BY A FRIAR IN A SINGLE GAME SINCE 2008-09 SEASON... Sophomore Orlagh Gormley recorded a career-high nine steals in the Friars' game against DePaul (Jan. 4). Her nine steals are the most by a Friar since Sarah Beal collected 10 against Bryant on Dec. 12, 2009.

FOUR FRIARS SCORE IN DOUBLE FIGURES VS. DE PAUL... Providence had four players score in double figures vs. DePaul on Jan. 4. It marked the first time this season that four players eclipsed double digits in the scoring column. Sabou Gueye led the way with 17 points. Orlagh Gormley chipped in 15 points, while Teneisia Brown and Sophi Hall scored 12 and 11 points, respectively. The Friars are 5-3 this season when three-or-more players reach double digits.

FLOOR GENERAL... Sophomore Orlagh Gormley has returned to the court as the Friars' floor general after sitting out the final 22 games of her freshman campaign with an injury. She's making an impact on both ends of the floor, leading the team in assists (4.5 apg) and steals (2.4 spg), while also contributing 7.6 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Gormley has recorded 3+ assists in 15 of 17 games, including 10 games with five-or-more assists. She has dished 5+ assists in each of the Friars' six BIG EAST games this season and leads the league in assists per game (5.5) during regular-season conference play. Through 17 games, Gormley leads the team in minutes played (526, 31.0 mpg). In league play, shes averaging 34.03 minutes per game, which ranks fourth in the BIG EAST.

GORMLEY LEADS THE BIG EAST IN ASSISTS PER GAME DURING CONFERENCE PLAY... Through six BIG EAST regular-season games, Orlagh Gormley is leading the BIG EAST in assists per game (5.5 apg). She has dished 5+ assists in all six games. Gormley's highest assist total in BIG EAST play this season was seven (vs. Xavier, Dec. 4). Additionally, Gormley ranks fourth in assist/turnover ratio during conference play (2.2).

DEFENSE... The Friars rank second in the BIG EAST in scoring defense (59.6) and field-goal percentage defense (.381) this season. Providence has held 13 of its 17 opponents below 40-percent shooting from the field. Additionally, Providence has held nine of its opponents below 60 points, including three opponents below 50.

SABOU GUEYE PROVING TO BE ONE OF THE TOP PLAYERS IN BIG EAST... Grad transfer Sabou Gueye is ranked inside the top-10 in six statistical categories this season among BIG EAST players. She ranks eighth in the league in points (234) and points per game (13.8 ppg), 10th in rebounding (5.7 rpg), fourth in field-goal percentage (.480), 10th in steals per game (1.9 spg) and tied for eighth in blocked shots (18). Gueye leads the Friars in double-digit scoring games (11) and 20-point games (three) and is tied for the team lead in double-doubles (two).

TENEISIA BROWN IS TOUGH ON THE GLASS... Teneisia Brown leads the team and ranks sixth in the BIG EAST in rebounding (6.7 rpg). She has hauled in a season-best 14 rebounds in two games vs. Central Connecticut (Nov. 10) and Bryant (Nov. 30). Her career high in BIG EAST Conference play for rebounding is 10 (vs. St. John's, 12/7/25). In addition to her rebounding prowess, she ranks third on the team in scoring (9.6 ppg) and steals (1.6 spg).

DOUBLE-DOUBLE TROUBLE... Sabou Gueye and Teneisia Brown are tied for the team lead in double-doubles, with two each. Gueye tallied 16 points and 12 rebounds vs. Boston College (Nov. 15) and 16 points and 12 rebounds vs. Xavier (Dec. 4). Brown recorded 12 points and 14 rebounds against Central Connecticut (Nov. 10) and 11 points and 10 boards vs. St. John's (Dec. 7).

DOUBLE DIGITS... Sabou Gueye leads the Friars in double-digit scoring games (11) and 20-point games (three). Eight other players on the roster have reached double figures, including Teneisia Brown (nine), Payton Dunbar (seven), Orlagh Gormley (five), Ashley Dinges (four), Sophi Hall (two), Princess Moody (one), Riley Hamburger (one) and Audrey Shields (one).

FRIARS ARE 1-6 WHEN OUT-REBOUNDED BY OPPONENT... The Friars are 1-6 this season when they record fewer rebounds than their opponent, including a 1-4 mark in BIG EAST play. Providence was out-rebounded by Xavier (38-34), St. John's (31-29), Rhode Island (39-36), South Carolina (44-32), UConn (36-25) and Seton Hall (42-38). Providence's 25 boards vs. UConn on Dec. 31 marks a season-low. The Friars recently recorded their only victory of the season when being out-rebounded on Jan. 4 at DePaul. The Blue Demons held a slim 35-33 advantage on the glass in that game.

NALANI KAYSIA GETTING HER FOOTING... Nalani Kaysia joined the team as a mid-year graduate student enrollee and saw her first game action as a Friar on Dec. 21 vs. Georgetown. She played 20 minutes and grabbed three rebounds. Through five games overall, she is averaging 3.2 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. The veteran forward is expected to give the Friars a boost on the interior, especially on the glass. During her college basketball career, she has recorded 27 double-digit scoring games, 31 double-digit rebounding games and 12 double-doubles.

ROOKIE ASHLEY DINGES EMERGING AS SEASON PROGRESSES... Freshman Ashley Dinges has appeared in the starting line-up in seven games this season, but that streak was snapped on Jan. 8 vs. Seton Hall due to an illness. Her first career start came on Sunday, Dec. 7 against St. John's and scored 12 points on 5-9 shooting, including a 2-3 performance beyond the arc. She added three boards, one assist and one steal. In her seven appearances in the starting line-up, she has scored in double figures four times and has averaged 9.4 points and 4.7 rpg, while shooting 40-percent from the field (26-65). In 17 games overall this season, Dinges is averaging 5.8 point and 4.2 rebounds.

BEYOND THE ARC... Payton Dunbar is starting to heat up from three-point territory after a slow start to the season. She's currently shooting 33-percent from deep (32-97) and ranks ninth in the BIG EAST in three-point field goals made per game (1.81). She has hit 3+ threes in a game six times this season, including a season-high four triples in four games. Over the last seven games, Dunbar has shot 37-percent from deep (14-38).

PRINCESS MOODY NETS CAREER-HIGH AGAINST NO. 1 UCONN... In the Friars' game against No. 1 UConn on Dec. 31, freshman Princess Moody scored a career-high 11 points. She hit 3-6 attempts from the floor, including a 2-2 performance beyond the three-point arc. She also added three boards, one assist and one steal in 22 minutes of action. Moody's previous career high in scoring was five points, which she has hit on four separate occasions.

TENEISIA BROWN ECLIPSES 1,300 CAREER POINTS... Grad transfer Teneisia Brown has eclipsed 1,300 points for her career. Brown arrived at Providence for her final season after stops at Merrimack (2020-22) and Fairleigh Dickinson (2023-25). She averaged double figures in the scoring column during each of her last three seasons of college basketball and currently ranks third on the team in scoring for the Friars through 17 games (9.6 ppg). Brown has a career scoring total of 1,350 points heading into Sunday's game against BIG EAST foe Villanova.

APPROACHING 900 REBOUNDS... Teneisia Brown is approaching 900 career rebounds. In 119 career games, Brown has hauled in 877 boards for an average of 7.4 rebounds per game. She needs just 23 boards to hit the 900-rebound mark.

FRIARS PLAY BACK-TO-BACK GAMES AGAINST TWO OPPONENTS RANKED IN THE TOP-THREE OF THE NATIONAL POLLS... Providence closed out the 2025 calendar year with back-to-back games against No. 3 South Carolina and No. 1 UConn. The Friars fell to the Gamecocks, 96-53, on Dec. 28 in Columbia, S.C. In its most recent game, Providence fell to top-ranked Connecticut, 90-53, at Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, R.I.

FRIARS DEFEAT GEORGETOWN IN OVERTIME TO CLAIM FIRST BIG EAST WIN OF THE YEAR... Sabou Gueye scored a career-high 23 points and added eight rebounds, one assist, six steals and three blocked shots to lift Providence over BIG EAST foe Georgetown, 68-61, in overtime on Dec. 21. It marked the Friars' first league win of the season after starting the year 0-2 in the BIG EAST. Providence ran away from the Hoyas in the extra session with a 9-2 scoring advantage. Orlagh Gormley netted a career-high 15 points and added seven boards, six assists and four steals. Ashley Dinges rounded out the list of double-digit scorers with 12 points and she also secured seven rebounds. Providence defeated Georgetown at home in Alumni Hall for the first time since the 2019-20 season.

SABOU GUEYE NAMED TO BIG EAST WEEKLY HONOR ROLL FOR A FOURTH TIME... Sabou Gueye was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll for a fourth time this season on Jan. 5. In a pair of games vs. No. 1 UConn and DePaul, Gueye averaged 14.5 points on 50-percent shooting from the field (10-20). She also converted 8-10 free throw attempts (.800) and added 2.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.5 blocked shots per game. On Dec. 31, she recorded 12 points on 4-6 shooting against top-ranked Connecticut and registered two rebounds and four steals. In Providence's come-back victory over DePaul on Jan. 4, Gueye led all scorers with 17 points, including 10 in the decisive second half rally. She also contributed three boards, five assists, three blocked shots and one steal.

FRIARS LET ONE SLIP AWAY AT ST. JOHN'S... The Friars led by as many as 16 points at the 6:27 mark of the third quarter at St. John's on Sunday, Dec. 7, but let the game slip away in the fourth. The Red Storm outscored Providence 23-9 in the final 10 minutes of play, including an 11-1 advantage in the final 3:23. Teneisia Brown recorded her second double-double of the season (11 pts / 10 rebs) and Orlagh Gormley and Ashley Dinges each tallied 12 points. St. John's shot 48.9-percent from the field in the game (23-47) and Brooke Moore paced three St. John's players in double figures with a game-high 16 points.

OFF THE MARK AT XAVIER... The Friars shot a season-low 31.7-percent from the field (20-63), including 3-20 from three-point territory (.150) in a 61-47 loss to Xavier on Dec. 4. Providence shot below 30-percent in each of the first two quarters to find itself trailing 30-19 at halftime. The Friars rallied in the third to outscore the Musketeers, 20-17, and climbed within six points on two occasions early in the fourth quarter, but were held scoreless over the final 5:20 of the game. Sabou Gueye recorded a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds and Teneisia Brown added 12 points and nine rebounds to lead the Friars. Gueye and Brown combined to shoot 50-percent from the field (12-24), while the rest of the team converted just 8-39 shots from the floor (.205). Xavier became the first opponent this season to shoot over 40-percent from the field vs. Providence (.442, 23-52).

SOPHI HALL PERFECT EN ROUTE TO A CAREER-BEST 18 POINTS... Junior Sophi Hall played 13 minutes off the bench in the Friars' match-up against Yale (Nov. 21) and recorded a career-high 18 points. Sixteen of her 18 points came in the second half. She was perfect from the field (5-5), including a 3-3 showing from beyond the arc. She also was 5-5 from the foul line.

PAYTON DUNBAR'S CAREER-HIGH 22 POINTS LIFT FRIARS OVER BOSTON COLLEGE... Sophomore Payton Dunbar recorded a career-high 22 points against Boston College on Nov. 15. Dunbar shot 8-14 from the field, including a 5-10 performance beyond the arc. Entering the game, Dunbar was 0-9 from three-point territory.

PAYTON DUNBAR NAMED TO EMERALD COAST CLASSIC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM... Sophomore transfer Payton Dunbar was named to the Emerald Coast Classic All-Tournament team on Nov. 25. She averaged 13.5 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.0 steal per game. She shot 42-percent from the field (10-24), including 35-percent from three-point territory. Dunbar paced the Friars with a game-high 19 points in a 64-33 victory over Alcorn State.

NEXT ERIN BATTH RADIO SHOW TO AIR ON FEBRUARY 19... The fourth episode of the Erin Batth Radio Show will air on Thursday, Feb. 19 from 5:30 - 6:00 p.m. Now in its third season, the show was developed via an existing partnership between Providence College Athletics, LEARFIELD'S Providence Friars Sports Properties and Cumulus Media Production. Listen live online at: https://www.thescore790.com or tune into 790AM. The show will also be available online via the Varsity Network app.

ERIN BATTH RADIO SHOW SCHEDULE • 790 THE SCORE

Feb. 19 • 5:30 – 6:00 p.m.

Mar. 5 • 5:30 – 6:00 p.m.

BIG EAST PRESEASON POLL... The Friars were picked to finish 10th in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll, released at the league's annual media day on Oct. 21 at Madison Square Garden. Last season, Providence completed the year with a 13-19 overall record and claimed a seventh-place finish in the regular-season standings with a 6-12 conference record.

WHAT'S NEXT... The Friars will return to action on Wednesday, Jan. 14 against Butler at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind. Tipoff is slated for 7:00 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Teneisia Brown

Ashley Dinges

Payton Dunbar

Orlagh Gormley

Sabou Gueye

Sophi Hall

Riley Hamburger

Nalani Kaysia

Princess Moody

Audrey Shields

Completed Event: Women's Basketball at #3/3 South Carolina on December 28, 2025 , Loss , 55, to, 96

Completed Event: Women's Basketball versus #1/1 Connecticut on December 31, 2025 , Loss , 53, to, 90

Completed Event: Women's Basketball at DePaul on January 4, 2026 , Win , 69, to, 59

Completed Event: Women's Basketball versus Seton Hall on January 8, 2026 , Loss , 48, to, 58

Completed Event: Women's Basketball versus Villanova on January 11, 2026 , Loss , 55, to, 85

Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball at Butler on January 14, 2026 at 7:00 PM

Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball versus Creighton on January 17, 2026 at 1:00 PM

Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball at Seton Hall on January 20, 2026 at 7:00 PM

Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball at Villanova on January 27, 2026 at 7:00 PM

Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball versus St. John's on January 31, 2026 at 1:00 PM

Providence College Athletics