INDIANAPOLIS – The Bulldogs had a ball in the air to tie the game at 58-58 with 1:03 to play in the fourth quarter, but the shot rimmed out and St. John's was able to hang on for a 65-57 victory at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Butler moves to 4-3 on the year with the setback and the Johnnies improve to 7-0.
 
Anna Mortag led Butler with 15 points and seven rebounds. Half of her made field goals came from behind the arc on Friday night and the junior would add a steal and an assist to her stat line. Rachel McLimore joined her in double figures with 11 points. The 'Dawgs shot 38 percent from the field and 40 percent from distance.
 
Kadaja Bailey and her game-high 16 points led St. John's to victory.  Jillian Archer added 13 points and Mimi Reid hit three 3-pointers to add 11. The Red Storm scored 15 second chance points and blocked eight shots to earn the road win.
 
How it Happened
Butler scored a layup on their first possession of the game, but a 9-0 St. John's scoring run would follow to give the visitors a quick lead. Four different Johnnies scored during that stretch and the Red Storm would lead BU 15-7 at the end of the first.
 
The Bulldogs would trail at the half for the first time this season as St. John's outscored the 'Dawgs 17-13 in the second frame to own a 32-20 advantage. The game picked up in the third quarter with Butler's offense coming alive. BU went just 1-for-6 from 3-point range in the first half, but hit four of their first five shots from range in the third quarter to find their rhythm. Each squad scored 16 points in the third to push the scoreboard to 48-36.
 
Anna Mortag scored eight of her 15 points in the third quarter and would hit a three-pointer with 5:04 left in the fourth to get Butler within seven points at 54-47. Six BU free throws trimmed the St. John's lead to just one at 56-55, but the Bulldogs would never take the lead.
 
Bailey scored seven-straight points for St. John's in crunch time to keep the Jonnies in front. She finished by scoring the final nine points for the visitors.
 
Stat of the Game
St. John's scored 15 second chance points compared to two for Butler.
 
Inside the Box Score
- BU shot 23 percent from the field in the first quarter to net seven points
- The 'Dawgs shot 45 percent in the fourth to score 21 points
- Caroline Strande came off the bench to score eight points
- BU only had 11 turnovers in the setback
- Sydney Jaynes contributed with seven points, four rebounds and three steals
- Shay Frederick led the Bulldogs with three assists (zero turnovers)
- Butler went 13-for-17 from the free throw line
- St. John's didn't miss a free throw (9-9)
- Each team finished the game with six 3-pointers
- STJ outrebounded BU 32-27

Up Next
Butler returns to action on Sunday by hosting the DePaul Blue Demons at 2 PM.