INDIANAPOLIS – Butler defeated St. John's 66-45 on Sunday afternoon to improve to 14-1 on the year. The Bulldogs remain undefeated inside Hinkle Fieldhouse this season (9-0) and are a perfect 4-0 against BIG EAST foes.
 
Kristen Spolyar led the team today with a season-high 23 points and six rebounds. Katherine Strong also impacted the win with 13 points and five boards.
 
Great team defense was the story on Sunday with Butler limiting the Red Storm to just 33 percent shooting from the field. Michelle Weaver was the leader defensively with season-high seven steals and two blocks.
 
Butler outscored St. John's 13-11 in both the first and second quarter to take a 26-22 lead into the half. The Bulldogs would take control of the game in the opening stages of the third quarter. A 6-0 start to the third would give BU a 10-point lead at 32-22. That scoring run would move to 10-1 which forced St. John's into calling a timeout.
 
BU led St. John's 41-28 at the halfway point of the third, and a transition 3-pointer from Spolyar moments later would push the lead to 51-30. Butler outscored St. John's 28-14 over that 10-minute stretch.
 
The fourth quarter played out much like the first two at Hinkle with Butler slowing down the pace and limiting possessions. The team would hit half of their shots (4-8) and walk off the court with the 66-45 win.
 
Butler scored 30 points off 22 Red Storm turnovers. Free throw shooting also favored the 'Dawgs with BU hitting 20 of their 24 attempts.
 
Butler's next three games will all be played away from Hinkle Fieldhouse. BU will take a trip to Cincinnati to face the Musketeers on Jan. 11. The following weekend will feature the long road trip that includes Providence and Creighton.