INDIANAPOLIS – Butler took their first loss of the season (4-1) at Ball State on Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs led by 10 going into the final 10 minutes, but the Cardinals would fight back with 25 fourth quarter points to earn their third win of 2019.
How It Happened
Ball State shot 44 percent in the first quarter to open up a 21-14 lead. The Bulldogs would shake off a sluggish start and hit their groove in the second quarter. A 16-0 scoring run would allow BU to come back and take a 42-34 halftime lead.
Genesis Parker hit a triple near the midway point of the second to give Butler their first lead of the game at 27-25. She scored 10 of her 22 points in the second quarter to spark the scoring spree.
Things looked to be in good hands after the third quarter with BU winning that 10-minute stretch 17-15. The offense would stall out in the fourth however hitting just four of their 16 shot attempts. Ball State stormed back to tie the game at 65-65 with 4:16 to play. They outscored Butler 9-5 in crunch time to improve to 3-2 on the season.
Inside the Box Score
- Butler went on a 16-0 scoring run in the second quarter to win that frame 28-13
- Ball State outscored Butler 25-11 in the fourth quarter
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Kristen Spolyar and
Genesis Parker are the first BU teammates to each score 20 in the same game since
Tori Schickel and
Whitney Jennings (3/28/19).
- Spolyar fouled out with a team-high 23 points, four steals, two rebounds and two assists
- Parker scored 22 points in 33 minutes and added five rebounds.
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Katherine Strong also fouled out of the game with six points and four rebounds.
- Butler forced 18 Cardinal turnovers.
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N'Dea Flye led BU with five assists. She scored six points and pulled down five rebounds.
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Shae Brey led all players with 13 rebounds.
Stat of the Game
Ball State's bench was responsible for 34 points compared to just 13 for BU. Jasmin Samz hit three 3-points for the Cardinals, posting 16 points and five assists in 27 minutes off the BSU bench.
What's Next
Butler will return to action on Friday, Nov. 29 with an 11 AM tip vs. Georgia. The following day they will face Ohio in the Daytona Tournament.
