INDIANAPOLIS – The Bulldogs defeated Xavier 71-53 on Sunday afternoon behind a 28 point, 14 rebound performance from Ijeoma Uchendu. With the win, Butler improves to 14-13 overall with a 10-6 mark against conference opponents.

Uchendu was terrific against Xavier, ending the contest with 28 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, three steals and a block. She hit seven of her 12 field goal attempts and made the Musketeers pay from the charity stripe by hitting 14-of-17 from the line.

Belle Obert and Lexus Murry joined Uchendu in double figures. Obert went 4-for-6 from the field, scoring 10 points while adding seven rebounds. Murry impacted the game off the bench to score 11 points.

The Bulldogs took control of the game in the closing minutes of the first half to take a 31-24 lead at the break. Butler closed the final 3:17 on an 8-2 run. The momentum stayed with the home team as the 'Dawgs eventually pushed their lead to double-figures with 14 minutes remaining in the second half.

Xavier never led in the second half as Butler kept their foot on the gas to score 71 points, their highest scoring output in a victory since Jan. 16.

Butler shot 44 percent in the win compared to just 33 percent from Xavier. The Bulldogs only hit two more field goals than Xavier, but they continued to attack the basket leading to 20 points from the free throw line.

Aliyah Zantt and Jenna Crittendon led Xavier in a losing effort. Zantt scored a team-high 14 points while also leading the team in assists with six. Crittendon scored 12 points and pulled down a team-high seven rebounds. The duo combined to hit four of Xavier's six 3-point field goals on the day.

Butler only shot 26 percent from the 3-point line, but the point differential at the line kept the team way out in front. Obert, Sydney Buck and Blaire Langlois all hit from distance. Obert went 2-for-3 from long range and Buck matched her total with two from distance, helping her score eight points. Langlois took all six of her shots from downtown, ending the game with six points. Rounding out the BU scoring total was junior Andriana Moore who jumped in the starting lineup today and provided the team with eight points and seven rebounds.

Butler will return to action next weekend with a pair of home games at Hinkle Fieldhouse. The Bulldogs will host St. John's on Friday and end the regular season with a game against Seton Hall on Sunday.