INDIANAPOLIS – The Bulldogs improved to 17-6 on the year with a 63-61 victory over Villanova on Sunday afternoon. Action on FS2 went back and forth throughout the contest with multiple scoring runs coming from each side. In the end, Butler would get 25 points out of senior Kristen Spolyar.  Her two free throws in the final seconds of the game would seal Butler's ninth conference win of the year.
 
Spolyar posted monster numbers with a game-high 25 points, eight rebounds and six steals. Oumou Toure added 13 points, seven rebounds and four steals and the final Bulldog to reach double figures in the scoring column was guard Upe Atosu with 11 points.
 
Head Coach Kurt Godlevske got an impressive all-around performance out of senior Shae Brey to help BU sweep the regular season series over Villanova. Brey had eight points, five rebounds, three steals, four assists and a blocked shot in the win.
 
Team defense was excellent for BU as the 'Dawgs forced 25 turnovers which resulted in 26 points. BU recorded 17 steals and only turned it over seven times.
 
Villanova jumped out to a 13-2 lead at the start of the game before a Butler timeout. The 'Dawgs started 0-8 from the field, while Nova hit three of their first four shots from behind the arc.
 
BU broke the huddle as a different team. They went on a 7-0 scoring run in just 47 seconds and would outscore Nova 14-3 to knot the score at 16-16. Oumou Toure and Upe Atosu each hit 3-pointers during the scoring spree. A Bulldog full court press also forced six Wildcat turnovers.
 
Toure had seven of Butler's 18 points after the first 10 minutes of the contest. Mary Gedaka matched that total on the other side for Nova.
 
Momentum stayed with the home team at the start of the second quarter. Butler scored the first nine points of the frame. Kristen Spolyar and Shae Brey combined for all nine and Atosu's second triple of the game would push the scoring run to 12-0.
 
Butler's offense stalled midway through the quarter which allowed Villanova to get back into the game. The Wildcats answered a 12-0 BU run with a 13-0 run of their own. That advantage moved to 17-2 near the end of the quarter and the two evenly matched teams would head to the locker room tied at the half 35-35.
 
3-point shooting was also important to each side over the first 20 minutes. Seven of Villanova's 10 made field goals in the first half were from long range. Butler connected on four of their six attempts.
 
Siegrist hit a 3-pointer late in the third quarter to give Villanova a 51-50 lead heading into the fourth. She ended the game with 21 points on 6-of-14 shooting. Teammate Mary Gedaka had a double-double with 21 points and 13 rebounds. BU highlighted the third with an 11-0 scoring run capped off by Atosu's third triple of the game.
 
The final four minutes of the fourth was action packed with Butler getting a lift from many different players. Toure cut to the rim and tied the game at 55-55 with 4:12 to play and the freshman would get the next Butler bucket on the following possession to once again tie the game.
 
Shae Brey drove past her defender on the right side of the court with 2:15 to play to tie the game at 59-59. The next BU possession went to Naira Caceres who hit a floater to give BU a two-point lead with 1:20 on the game clock.
 
Toure pulled down two huge offensive rebounds in the final minute of action that would keep the ball with Butler. Nova was then forced to foul in an attempt to extend the game, but Spolyar would ice the win with a pair of free throws.
 
Winners of five straight, Butler will hit the road next weekend with games upcoming against #14 DePaul and Marquette.