Preview: Marquette Golden Eagles at Villanova Wildcats BRYN MAWR, Pa. (Interstat) — The Villanova Wildcats, riding a strong season but coming off a loss to a national power, will host the Marquette Golden Eagles in a Big East women’s basketball matchup on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. The game at The Pavilion pits a Villanova squad (21-6) firmly in the conference’s upper tier against a Marquette team (16-10) looking to stabilize its postseason résumé amid a recent skid. The Wildcats have won seven of their last nine games, with their only defeats in that span coming against No. 1-ranked Connecticut. Marquette has dropped three straight, including losses to Seton Hall, Creighton and UConn. Villanova will lean on forward Denae Carter, who is coming off a dominant 21-point, 3-block performance in the loss to the Huskies on Feb. 18. Over her last seven games, Carter has averaged 9.6 points and 4.0 rebounds, providing consistent interior presence. For Marquette, guard Jaidynn Mason will be a key facilitator. She averages 10.4 points and 4.7 assists per game this season and is coming off an 11-point, 8-rebound, 5-assist effort against UConn. The Golden Eagles will need her all-around production to counter Villanova’s balanced attack. The teams last met on Jan. 4, 2026, in Milwaukee, where Marquette secured an 85-69 victory. That result will likely fuel a Wildcats team seeking revenge on its home floor. Villanova’s defense, which has held opponents to 60 points or fewer in 12 games this season, will be tested by a Marquette offense that has shown explosiveness but struggled recently. The Golden Eagles’ three-game losing streak follows a five-game winning streak in late January. A win would bolster Villanova’s standing near the top of the Big East, while Marquette aims to halt its slide and sweep the season series. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. EST. Villanova visits Seton Hall next on Thursday, Feb. 26. Marquette’s next game is at home against Xavier on Wednesday, Feb. 25.