VILLANOVA, Pa. – Villanova closed out the final eight minutes of the game on an 18-9 scoring run to defeat Butler by the final score of 63-52 on Friday night. Lexus Murry came off the bench to lead BU in a losing effort by matching her career-high scoring total with 16 points.

Murry scored eight points in each half to give Butler a lift off the bench and senior forward Ijeoma Uchendu posted her third-straight double-double, but it wasn't enough as Nova went on to record their ninth win of the conference season to split the regular season series against Butler.

The Bulldogs got off to a sluggish start which turned into a quick 6-0 lead for the Wildcats. Langlois cut the deficit to three points with her first 3-point field goal of the game and her second would knot the score at 16-16. The junior from Carmel wasn't done as she drained her third 3-point field goal of the game on the next trip down to give BU their first lead of the night.

First half action would continue to go back and forth from that point, but Nova would eventually pull out in front with a three point edge at the break.

Carolina Coyer of Villanova was the story of the second half as the combo guard scored 16 of her game-high 21 points in the closing 20 minutes of action. Coyer accounted for half of Villanova's points down the stretch with a majority of them coming early.

Despite the hot shooting streak from Coyer, Butler continued to battle and got the score within two points with 8:38 left. The Bulldogs left the sideline after a media timeout and quickly found themselves down by five after a 3-point field goal from Emily Leer. The lead would balloon to nine points with 3:32 left after yet another 3-point field goal by Coyer and the Wildcats would get to the finish line by hitting five of their final seven free throw attempts.

Villanova only had five players score on Friday night with Coyer and Leer combining for 38 of Nova's 63. Katherine Coyer was the third player to reach a double figure scoring total by adding 11, Alex Louin posted eight and Lauren Burford was in the book with six.

All seven Bulldogs that took the floor scored at least one point. Langlois used three first half 3-point field goals to net 11 points and Obert was in the paint to add five. Loryn Goodwin scored four points, Sydney Buck hit from distance to net three and Andriana Moore connected on one of her two free throw attempts for one point.

Butler will put this loss behind them and shift their focus to a 4 p.m. tip against Georgetown on Sunday.