UNCASVILLE, Conn. -- Butler led Providence for nearly 27 minutes, but the Friars would come storming back to post a 63-61 victory and advance to the quarterfinals of the 2021 BIG EAST Conference Tournament. The Bulldogs end the year with a 3-17 record.
 
How it Happened
Providence outscored Butler 38-29 in the second half to register a two-point win in the first round of the tournament. Mary Baskerville sat much of the first half with foul trouble for the Friars but the talented forward would come onto the scene quickly in the third quarter. She scored the first five points for PC after the half and cut the BU lead to just four at 34-30.
 
Okako Adika stepped up for the Bulldogs and hit a 3-pointer to extend the lead back to 41-32, but the Friars were within range at the media timeout thanks to Alyssa Geary. The 6-4 forward scored 19 of the first 35 points for the Friars and after three free throws from teammate Kyra Spiwak, PC trailed by just three points (41-38). The first tie of the second half came at 46-46, but the 'Dawgs would hang onto a two-point cushion heading into the final 10 minutes.
 
Chanell Williams made her first field goal of the game two minutes into the fourth quarter and that would be the bucket that gave the Friars their first lead of the second half. Butler would quickly get the lead back with points from Genesis Parker, but neither team would stand down over the final seven minutes of action.
 
Spiwak hit a 3-pointer to put PC back in front and the Friars would stay there until the 3:11 mark. Freshman Nyamer Diew hit a shot from the corner with her foot on the 3-point line to get Butler a 59-58 lead. Adika would hit from the same spot on the floor the next trip down to move the BU advantage to three points.
 
With the game on the line, Providence went to Baskerville and she delivered. Baskerville blocked a perimeter shot by Diew then ran the floor for the transition bucket that made the score 61-60. The next possession she gathered her own miss in the paint and got a layup with 1:18 to play.
 
Butler got possession with 27.8 seconds left, trailing 63-61. They missed two 3-pointers, but would get one final look after the ball bounced out of bounds off a Friar. With 11.1 remaining, Butler kicked the ball out to Genesis Parker who had a good look from 3-point range, but the shot was off with just two seconds left and the Friars would advance to face Marquette.
 
Stat of the Game
Butler only had six turnovers in the game. Half of them came on offensive fouls.
 
Inside the Box Score
- Okako Adika led Butler with 17 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and two steals.
- Upe Atosu picked up her third personal foul in the second quarter, but still managed 11 points, five assists and three rebounds in 27 minutes.
- Nyamer Diew led Butler with four blocked shots. She also provided BU with nine points and six boards.
- Genesis Parker posted nine points, five rebounds and one assist.
- All eight Bulldogs who played scored at least one point.
- Butler led 32-25 at halftime.