GAME NOTES | TICKETS | WATCH | LIVE STATS
 
INDIANAPOLIS – Butler and Ball State will go head-to-head on Tuesday night inside Hinkle Fieldhouse. The in-state rivals will reignite their rivalry at 7 PM on Nov. 16.
 
Bulldog Bits
- Tuesday will mark the 28th meeting between Butler and Ball State.
- Emilia Sexton led Butler in scoring (10) for the first time in her Bulldog career against Western Illinois.
- Zoe Jackson has led Butler in assists in each game this season and Tenley Dowell has been the top rebounder.
- Sexton, Jackson and Alex Richard are all shooting over 50% from the field after two games.
- Butler's top three scorers after two games are all freshmen.
- BU leads the BIG EAST in free throw percentage (82.4% / 14-for-17).
- Butler grabbed 14 offensive rebounds vs. WIU after collecting just three in the season opener vs. IU.
- Abby Stoddard and Madison Royal-Davis made their season debuts vs. the Leathernecks.
 
Scouting Ball State                                                                                
The Cardinals are 1-0 this year after claiming an 84-75 overtime win against Milwaukee in the season opener. They were slated to host Purdue Fort Wayne over the weekend, but the contest was canceled due to Covid cases within the Mastodons program. BSU head coach Brady Sallee picked up his 300th career victory last week vs. the Panthers. The Cardinals dominated the overtime period (12-3) to find the win column on Nov. 9. Milwaukee raced out to a 17-12 lead after the first quarter, but the two evenly matched teams would be locked at 51-51 heading into the fourth. Anna Clephane came up clutch to send the game into overtime. She scored in the paint as time expired, forcing an additional five minutes to the game. The Cardinals scored two field goals on their first two possessions in the overtime period, and limited Milwaukee to just three free throws to earn their first win.
 
All-Time Series                                                                                       
Butler leads Ball State in the all-time series 16-11. The first-ever meeting between the two programs came during the 1980-81 season with BU winning in Muncie 69-54. Ball State won the last meeting 74-70 on their home court during the 2019-20 campaign. Butler's last win over Ball State came the year prior in 2018-19. The 'Dawgs won at Hinkle 64-47.
 
Last Meeting vs. the Cardinals                                                           
Ball State handed Butler their first loss of the season in 2019 by scoring 25 points in the fourth quarter to complete the comeback win. The Bulldogs led by 10 heading into the final 10 minutes of action, but shot just 25 percent in the fourth quarter allowing Ball State back into the game. The Cardinals outscored Butler 25-11 in the fourth to come up with the win. Genesis Parker scored 22 points in 33 minutes. Teammate Kristen Spolyar had a team-high 23 points in the setback.
 
Butler Falls to Western Illinois                                                            
Western Illinois outscored Butler 20-9 in the first quarter and never looked back to record their first win of the season, Saturday at Hinkle Fieldhouse. The Leathernecks hit 16 3-pointers against the Bulldogs to collect a 73-46 victory. BU (0-2) shot 27 percent from the field and 17 percent from long range to move to 0-2 on the year. Butler was led by Emilia Sexton with 10 points. Trinity White came off the bench to add eight.
 
Fantastic Freshmen                                                                               
Six of the 11 student-athletes to see playing time at Butler over the first two games of the season are freshmen. Alex Richard leads the team in points (27), field goals made (13), and steals (5). Zoe Jackson ranks second on the team in points (25), second in field goals made (10) and is the team leader with six assists.
 
Find the Right Five                                                                                               
Butler used two different starting lineups last week. Alex Richard, Emilia Sexton and Tenley Dowell are the only three players to start in each game.
 
Sexton Can Shoot it                                                                               
Emilia Sexton hit two 3-pointers vs. Western Illinois to lead BU from behind the arc on Saturday. She is shooting 50% from long range this season (3-for-6). Over her four year career, Sexton has made 62 field goals over 60 games. 46 of those 62 made field goals have come from 3-point range (74%).
 
More to Come                                                                                        
Butler had just 10 active players available for the Western Illinois game. Celena Taborn, Jamilyn Robinson, Oumou Toure, Rosemarie Dumont and Kate Tanner have not appeared in a box score yet this season. Genesis Parker also exited the IU game with an injury (undisclosed).
 
Up Next                                                                                                                  
Butler will play Austin Peay this weekend on Saturday, Nov. 20. The fourth-straight home game for the Bulldogs will feature a 12 PM tip.