QUEENS, N.Y. – Butler led St. John's by 14 points with 6:30 left in the third quarter, but a 20-5 St. John's scoring run would turn the momentum and give the home team a 64-56 victory. The loss moves BU to 0-6 this season, while St. John's improves to 4-5.
 
Butler trailed St. John's 14-9 after the first quarter. The early 4-3 BU advantage quickly disappeared with St. John's going on a 9-0 scoring run to make the score 12-4. The Johnnies moved the ball inside to build their lead, so Butler would shake things up in the second quarter with a zone defense.
 
The strategy paid off for Head Coach Kurt Godlevske and Butler put together one of their best quarters of the season at Carnesecca Arena. Genesis Parker sparked the charge offensively with a pair of triples in the second period. Each top of the key 3-pointer was huge for the Bulldogs and eventually Parker would knot the score at 19-19.
 
Butler outscored St. John's 19-10 in the second quarter to claim a 28-24 halftime lead. Parker only missed one shot over the first 20 minutes to net 11 of her team-high 13 points early in the contest. Jaia Alexander was her running mate in this one with seven points and six rebounds in the first half. Each player was highly involved in the offense and exited the floor with zero turnovers.
 
Butler's defense was equally as impressive early on by holding Leilani Correa to just three points on 1-of-8 shooting. Correa however would come out strong in the second half to lift STJ to victory. She scored 17 second half points to post a game-high 20. Correa added 10 rebounds for a double-double and teammate Qadashah Hoppie would step up with 17 points.
 
That duo helped St. John's erase a 14-point deficit in the third and take a one point lead heading into the fourth. Butler turned defense into offense after the half and would score two quick buckets to add to their lead, but the Johnnies countered and would continue to feed Correa and Hoppie. A 20-5 STJ scoring run to close the third quarter would give the Johnnies a one-point lead heading into the final 10 minutes.
 
Butler wouldn't go away in the fourth as each team battled for their first conference win of the season. Alexander made the game 56-53 with 2:36 left, but the 'Dawgs would not get any closer. Hoppie and Correa scored the next four points to move the lead to seven and the Johnnies would get to the final whistle with a 64-56 win.
 
Butler's balanced scoring attack featured four players reaching double figures. Alexander and Upe Atosu each had 11 and junior Okako Adika posted nine points, six rebounds, three steals and one assist. Micah Scheetz also added seven points for BU.
 
Butler will return to Indianapolis tonight and have one day off before hosting Seton Hall on Monday. The 6 PM tip on BEDN can be streamed live on FloHoops.com