Box Score

VILLANOVA, PA – The Bulldogs nearly spoiled Senior Day for Villanova on Sunday afternoon, but the Wildcats would hold off the Bulldogs to post a 61-58 victory in overtime. Tori Schickel led all players with 21 points and 16 rebounds.
 
Schickel picked up right where she left off the last time she saw Villanova to post a double-double. She hit 10 of her 17 shots from the field and also picked up one assist, one steal and three blocks in 43 minutes of playing time.
 
Schickel scored the first two points and only field goal of the overtime period for Butler. Alex Louin would match her field goal for Villanova, and the Wildcats would connect on more free throw attempts in the extra period to record the three-point win.
 
It was Senior Day for Samantha Wilkes, Jordan Dillard, and Karlie Crispin. All three entered the starting lineup today which helped Nova win bench points 32-16. Adrianna Hahn and Kelly Jekot were off the bench quick off for Nova after the first media timeout. Hahn finished the game with eight points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals. Jekot came up big in the fourth quarter and overtime to notch nine points for the Wildcats.
 
Villanova's bench production was important, but two starters led the team in points. Jannah Tucker, who missed the first contest between the two clubs, scored a team-high 14 points today and led the Wildcats from 3-point range with four made triples. Louin was solid in all phases of the game posting 13 points, 10 rebounds, three assists two steals and a blocked shot.
 
Today's game started in a similar fashion to the first meeting with Butler jumping out to a 10-5 lead at the first media timeout. Schickel went to the block to score four points and a 3-point field goal from both Taylor Buford and Michelle Weaver would add to the early lead.
 
A full-court press from BU would keep the Wildcats out of a rhythm and the scoring would slow down on each side as a result. Shae Brey added a pair of free throws to give BU the 12-8 lead at the end of the first quarter. Nova got a pair of 3-pointers from Megan Quinn and Tucker. Louin scored the first bucket of the game to bring the Wildcats to eight points after 10 minutes.
 
The second quarter featured a game within the game as Hahn and Schickel went on individual scoring runs. Hahn scored five quick points at the start of the second to pull Villanova within one point at 14-13. The talented shooting guard hit a deep 3-pointer from straight away and then drove down the middle of the lane on the next trip down for two. Butler called a timeout just two minutes into the action to slow down Hahn, but the strategy didn't pay off as Hahn buried another triple after the stoppage.
 
The Bulldogs were able to counter the offensive outburst by feeding the ball to Tori Schickel. Schickel came up with six-straight points in the paint to keep Butler on top.
 
The final stages of the first half would favor Villanova with Jannah Tucker hitting a 3-pointer to tie the game at 24-24. The Wildcats would enjoy a two-point cushion at the break after Louin drained a pair of free throws with less than a minute to play.
 
Taylor Buford came out hot to score seven of Butler's first nine points of the third quarter. The Bulldogs tied the score at 33-33 at the first media timeout of the second half. Buford and Schickel combined for 14 of Butler's 16 points in the third quarter. The other field goal was provided by Michelle Weaver.
 
Villanova pushed their lead to five points early in the fourth quarter by scoring the first four points of the final ten minutes. Mary Gedaka rebounded her own miss to end up with two and Jekot added a layup in transition to force a Butler timeout.
 
BU trailed by five with seven minutes left, but a layup from Alexa Bailey paired with a triple from Shae Brey and one more from long range by Sydney Buck kept Butler alive. Buck's first field goal of the game was a big one as it swung momentum back to BU and got the Bulldogs within a point with four minutes to go.
 
The defense focused on Hahn and Louin down the stretch which created opportunities for Jekot and Mary Gedaka. Those two players came together to score 15-straight points for Villanova in the fourth quarter. Jekot answered Buck's first three, but the BU sharpshooter would let another one fly from distance to put the score at 52-51.
 
Villanova would turn it over on their next trip and Butler would make them pay by feeding Schickel inside for two more points, but more importantly a one-point lead on the scoreboard 53-52.
 
The lead would change hands once again with just 1:30 left in regulation after a layup from Gedaka. BU would keep their composure and tie the game 20 seconds later with Shae Brey connecting on one of two from the charity stripe.
 
The final minute was highly entertaining with each team fighting for an advantage. Gedaka went at Schickel once again with 40 seconds to play and Schickel stood tall to block the shot and collect the rebound giving BU the stop that they needed. Unfortunately for Butler, the Wildcats also came up with a big block as Hahn closed out hard on Buck's 3-point attempt to get a hand in the way.
 
The final possession would belong to Villanova who got the ball to Louin. The junior guard would attempt a 3-pointer with five seconds left, but it was off the mark and rebounded by Schickel to signal the end of regulation.
 
The overtime period favored Nova 7-4. BU scored first with a bucket from Schickel, but the Bulldogs couldn't keep the Wildcats off the free throw line. Jekot's first free throw cut the lead in half and a layup from Louin would regain the Nova lead.
 
Jekot would return to the line to hit one of two, giving Nova a two-point lead, but a pair of free throws from Alexa Bailey would knot the score for the ninth time at 58-58.
 
The final minute of competition would feature three made free throws from Louin and four missed shots from Butler. BU's best look to tie the game came after a timeout, but Buford's shot from the corner was off to keep the lead at three.
 
Butler fouled immediately to stop the clock and Jekot was unable to ice the game with two missed free throws. Buford leaked out after the miss and Schickel found her a few steps past half court, but the last second shot didn't go down, handing BU their14th conference loss of the year.
 
The final weekend of the 2017 regular season will feature Butler hosting both Providence and Creighton. The Friars will visit Hinkle Fieldhouse on Friday, Feb. 24 with the Bluejays following on Sunday, Feb. 26. Each contest will stream live on BEDN.
 
The First Round of the 2017 BIG EAST Championship Tournament is set for March 4. Marquette will host the action this year in Milwaukee. Tickets for the event are on sale now.