INDIANAPOLIS – Butler and Denver took part in the longest women's college basketball game of the season on Friday night inside Hinkle Fieldhouse. After four overtime periods, the Pioneers would outlast the Bulldogs to win 100-96.
 
How it Happened
Indeya Sanders hit a 3-pointer just before the buzzer with one second remaining in the third overtime to keep Denver alive. The Pioneers would ride that momentum into the fourth overtime and outscore Butler 14-8 during that five minute stretch to claim their fifth win of the season.
 
Sanders had 16 points on the night, but Denver was led in the scoring column by forward Uju Ezeudu. She scored a team-high 23 points on 9-of-14 shooting. In order for Denver to reach 100 points, the team had to have five players score in double figures. Anna Jackson had 17, Cheyenne Forney had a double-double off the bench with 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Makayal Minett would drop 10 points and five boards.
 
Butler's offense came inside from Celena Taborn and Sydney Jaynes. Taborn scored game-high 33 points. She ended the game just four points shy of tying the single-game scoring record at BU. 33 points also ties her career-high.
 
Jaynes scored 14 points off the bench on 7-of-11 shooting. Trinity White added 16 before fouling out with 4:24 to play in the second overtime. Zoe Jackson also hit double figures with 10 points. The BU point guard also led the team in minutes played (54:15).
 
Stat of the Game
Celena Taborn was the player of the game for Butler with 33 points and 10 rebounds. It marked her second consecutive game with a double-double.
 
Inside the Box Score
- That was the first four overtime game in program history
- There were 21 lead changes and 17 ties in the contest
- Denver hit 10 3-pointers compared to eight from Butler
- Butler connected on 24 of their 30 free throw attempts
- Zoe Jackson contributed with four steals and four assists
- Tenley Dowell had seven points, three boards and two assists
- Denver won the rebound battle 55-48. They had 19 offensive rebounds
- Sanders dished out a game-high 10 assists
- Ezeudu almost had a triple-double by adding eight assists and 14 rebounds
- Butler didn't commit a turnover until the 5:52 mark of the second quarter. They ended the game with 15
 
Up Next
Butler will head to Champagne, Ill. on Sunday to face Illinois at 3 PM. This will be the fourth meeting between the two programs.