Box Score
INDIANAPOLIS – Butler took a 74-59 loss to South Florida on Friday night to move their overall record to 2-5. The Bulldogs held a one-point lead at the half, but the Bulls stepped up to score 44 of their 74 points over the final 20 minutes of the contest to pull out the victory.
Butler scored the first seven points of the game and enjoyed a 12-3 lead at the first media timeout.
Kristen Spolyar scored seven of Butler's first 12 points, but the tail end of the opening quarter would go to the visitors giving USF a 16-14 lead after one. The Bulls ended the opening frame on a 13-0 scoring run, led by Ariadna Pujol who had six points after 10 minutes.
USF would hold onto their slim lead midway through the second quarter, but a 3-point field goal from
Alexa Bailey would regain the lead for BU. The Bulldogs would head into the half with a 31-30 lead by winning the second quarter 17-14
The Bulls stepped up offensively to retake the lead in the third quarter by going on an 11-0 scoring run. Butler got six of those points back on a scoring run to cut the deficit to 48-43, but USF would nearly double up Butler in the third 22-12.
The fourth quarter featured 22 more points from USF giving the Bulls the 15-point win. Butler got a steal and a fast break score from
Michelle Weaver to get back within six points at 57-51, but Kitija Laksa would answer on the following possession with a 3-pointer.
Butler's final push would come with roughly four minutes to play with
Sydney Shelton hitting her fourth 3-point field goal of the game, moving the score to 60-54. The 'Dawgs were not able to get any closer as USF finished the contest 17-of-21 from the charity stripe (81%).
Butler had four players reach a double figure scoring total with Shelton leading the way with 12. Shelton scored all of her points from 3-point range, accounting for half of BU's make from behind the arc.
Tori Schickel posted her third-straight double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds. Eight of her team-high 13 boards came on the offensive glass. Weaver joined Schickel with 10 points vs. USF and Spolyar would once again reach double figures with 11 points.
Weaver stuffed the box score by adding five steals, four assists, three rebounds and a blocked shot. The opposing point guard was equally as impressive as Laia Flores posted 18 points and eight assists against the Bulldogs.
Butler will have a quick turnaround with a game against Ball State this Sunday. Tip-off against the in-state rival is set for 1 PM.
