Box Score

INDIANAPOLIS – Butler claimed their first conference win of the season in convincing fashion by defeating Seton Hall on FS1 by the final score of 79-58. Kristen Spolyar and Tori Schickel each recorded a double-double in the lopsided victory.
 
Spolyar scored a career-high 28 points against the Pirates to go along with 10 rebounds and three steals. Schickel was a monster for BU on the inside by recording 23 points and a game-high 16 rebounds. That duo along with Sydney Shelton helped score 67 of Butler's 79 points Monday night.
 
"Our kids made individual efforts to help their teammates tonight and it really showed," Head Coach Kurt Godlevske said postgame. "We did so many wonderful things on the offensive end, I thought the kids were fantastic in making the extra pass to get a better shot."
 
Butler scored a season-high 79 points by shooting 50 percent from the field (30-60). They took a five-point lead into the half, but solidified their win by outscoring Seton Hall 46-30 in the second half.
 
"Defensively we got into driving lanes and helped whoever was on the ball." Godlevske added. "We did a nice job of following the game plan. I was really proud of them."
 
The Bulldogs came up with 11 steals and scored 20 points off 16 Seton Hall turnovers. They held Seton Hall to 29 percent shooting, and beat the Pirates on the boards 44-32.
 
The turning point in the game came in the opening stages of the third quarter with Butler going on a 9-0 run to take a 50-34 lead. Schickel and Spolyar each scored nine points in the third allowing BU to win the quarter 23-12.
 
"I loved the way Tori played in the second half," Godlevske added. "We had a talk at halftime and I love how she responded. I'm very happy for her in how she handled that and how she went out and addressed the challenge with her play, which was fantastic.
 
The fourth quarter belonged to Butler star freshman Kristen Spolyar who scored 12 of her team-high 28 points over the final 10 minutes of the game. Spolyar shot 5-for-7 in the final stages of the game and added three rebounds to notch her first career double-double.
 
"Kristen was so consistent for us tonight," Godlevske said. "She did the little things that lead to big nights. She didn't force anything which let the game come to her. If she gets more involved by grabbing rebounds and getting steals then the scoring will continue to come."
 
The third member of the scoring trio was fellow freshman Sydney Shelton. The 5-9 guard set the tone for BU early by knocking down a pair of 3-point field goals in the first quarter. She ended the game with four 3-pointers, seven rebounds and two steals.
 
Butler will return to action on Thursday night with a 7 PM tip against St. John's at Hinkle Fieldhouse.