INDIANAPOLIS – Butler defeated Northeastern in the first round of the WNIT by the final score of 89-72. Whitney Jennings led all players with a game-high 29 points. The senior guard reached 1,001 career points in the victory.
 
The Bulldogs won a WNIT game for just the third time in program history on Thursday night. Jennings hit seven 3-point field goals to help her net 29 points and teammate Kristen Spolyar would add 21 points, six rebounds and three steals.
 
Tori Schickel also stuffed the box score with 12 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. The fourth Bulldog to reach a double figure scoring total was forward Shae Brey with 10.
 
The Bulldogs trailed Northeastern 23-17 after the first quarter, but would explode for 35 points in the second quarter to take a 16-point halftime lead. Butler closed the second quarter on a 17-1 scoring run. They did that damage over the final 3:23 of the frame.
 
Jennings led the charge in the second quarter to blow the game wide open. She scored 14 of her game-high 29 points during that 10-minute stretch.
 
BU shot 72.2 percent from the field (13-18) in the second and knocked down five of their seven 3-point attempts.
 
Points off turnovers also played a large factor in the outcome. Butler forced Northeastern into 10 first half turnovers which resulted in 23 Bulldog points. They doubled up the Huskies in the assist column 14-7 and dominated inside scoring 26 points in the paint compared to just eight from their opponent.
 
Any chance of a comeback would be erased in the third quarter with Butler winning that frame 24-8. Fans stuck around Hinkle Fieldhouse to see Jennings knock down a pair of free throws in the final stages of the fourth quarter to reach 1,001 career points. Jennings accomplished the feat in just two years at Butler.
 
The Bulldogs will now advance to round 2 of the WNIT. They will face Kent State, but the location and start time are still not set. Kent State went on the road Thursday night to defeat Green Bay.