INDIANAPOLIS – Butler is 1-0 at the start of the 2018-19 season after recording a 35-point win over Eastern Illinois 72-37. The Bulldogs shot 50 percent from the field (28-for-56) and had three players reach a double figure scoring total.
 
Senior Tori Schickel would lead BU in the scoring column with 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting. She added a game-high 12 rebounds and one steal to her stat line. Kristen Spolyar added 15 points for BU and Michelle Weaver would end the contest with 11 points, five assists and a team-high five steals.
 
Schickel scored eight of her team-high 16 points in the first quarter. The Bulldogs would race out to a 22-8 lead after one and cruise to a 41-17 halftime score.
 
Every member of the team saw playing time with Butler leading 57-32 after three quarters of action. Naira Caceres came off the bench to net seven points, Shae Brey would end the game with five and freshman Emilia Sexton would also score five in her collegiate debut.
 
Schickel, Spolyar and Weaver were joined by Whitney Jennings and Katherine Strong in the starting five. Each player ended the game with four points. Ashanti Thomas was yet another Bulldog to score four points in the season opener. The final scoring total was rounded out by Ellen Ross who went 1-for-2 from the charity stripe.
 
BU scored 48 points in the paint and posted 23 points on the scoreboard off 24 Panther turnovers.
 
The Bulldogs will return to action on Tuesday, Nov. 13 with a home game against Murray State. Opening tip is scheduled for 7 PM.