GAME NOTES | LIVE STATS | YOUTUBE | TICKETS
INDIANAPOLIS – Butler will host Purdue Fort Wayne on Sunday, Dec. 22. The 2 PM tip will be Youth Basketball Day. Kid's wearing their basketball jersey will receive free admission to the game!
Bulldog Talk
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Genesis Parker is shooting 51% from 3-point land this season (23-45), fourth-best in the BIG EAST.
- Butler hit 43% of their 3-pointers vs. High Point, their best percentage since Nov. 20 (IUPUI).
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Upe Atosu has hit three 3-pointers in back-to-back games for Butler.
- Parker dished out a season-high five assists in Sunday's win over High Point.
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Kristen Spolyar ranks 15th on the BU all-time scoring list with 1,182 career points.
- Spolyar ranks third in the BIG EAST with an 18.2 scoring average.
- Butler ranks third in the BIG EAST in scoring defense (58.9).
- Butler ranks second in the BIG EAST in rebound margin (+3.5).
- BU pulled down a season-high 33 defensive rebounds vs. High Point.
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Naira Caceres came down with a season-high nine rebounds vs. High Point.
- Butler ranks second in the league in steals (11.8).
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Oumou Toure ranks third in the conference in free throw percentage (84.6).
Scouting Purdue Fort Wayne
The Mastodons are 4-8 overall after beating Evansville last week 67-64. Senior guard Hannah Albrecht led Purdue Fort Wayne to a comeback victory by scoring a career-high 30 points. Albrecht moved her season scoring average to 15.0 and was tabbed Summit League Player of the Week. Albrecht, Anna Lappenkuper and Shayla Sellers have started in all 12 games for Head Coach Niecee Nelson. Lappenkuper ranks second on the team in scoring and Sellers is the team leader in steals with 28. BU will also keep a close eye on Sh'Toya Sanders. She is averaging a team-best 8.8 rebounds per game.
All-Time Series
Butler posted a 70-64 win over Purdue Fort Wayne in 2016 to gain a 7-4 lead in the all-time series. Purdue Fort Wayne's last win vs. Butler came in 2011 (68-60). The first-ever meeting between the two programs was played in 1976, Butler's second year as a program.
RPI Poll
Butler moved from 63 to 101 in the RPI Poll after a 1-1 week. The BIG EAST leader in the poll is Creighton at 6.
Spolyar Added to BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
In a 1-1 week for the Bulldogs,
Kristen Spolyar averaged a team-best 16.5 points along with 4.5 rebounds. She made 13-of-15 attempts from the charity stripe. Spolyar scored in double figures in both games last week, including 15 against No. 12/15 Indiana and 18 in a win over High Point.
Team Win
For just the second time this season, Head Coach
Kurt Godlevske used the entire roster in the win over High Point. All 13 active student-athletes saw playing time and 12 of the 13 scored at least one point. Butler posted 24 bench points in the victory, their highest total of the season.
Get to the Line
Butler has made more free throws this season (179) than the Mastodons have attempted (160) despite playing two fewer games. The 'Dawgs will look to attack the rim on Sunday. They rank fourth in the NCAA in free throw attempts and sixth in free throws made.
Beat Them on the Boards
Butler ranks second in the BIG EAST in rebound margin (+3.5) and third in total rebounds. They average 37.4 rebound per game while the 'Dons are coming up with just 31.5.
Keys to Victory
Butler is 5-0 this season when they shoot over 40 percent from the field and are 6-0 when they outrebound their opponent. Sharing the ball will also be important. Butler has had three players reach double figures in scoring during all seven wins this season.
Before The BIG EAST
The Mastodons are the final test of the non-conference season for the Bulldogs. Coach Godlevske is 3-2 against opponents when closing out the non-conference portion of the schedule. A victory on Sunday will give BU three-straight seasons with at least eight non-conference wins.
Up Next
Butler will host Seton Hall in the BIG EAST home opener. The Pirates will play at Hinkle on Sunday, Dec. 29. The final game of 2019 will be on Dec. 31 when Butler hosts St. John's at 4 PM.
