INDIANAPOLIS – A rare Sunday night came concluded with Xavier posting a 73-54 win over Butler at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Ayanna Townsend led the Musketeers to victory with 15 points and nine rebounds. The Bulldogs were led by Sydney Jaynes and her 12 points.
 
How It Happened
Jaynes opened the contest with the first two points of the night, but the Musketeers would counter with a 9-0 run to lead by five at the first media timeout. Shelby Calhoun had five of the nine Xavier points and Jaynes would add a pair of free throws before the first stoppage to account for all four BU points.
 
Alex Richard drove past the defense to add two points to the scoreboard for the 'Dawgs, but the Musketeers would lead by 10 with two minutes to play 16-6. Butler would chop away at the deficit in the closing seconds of the first quarter. Celena Taborn scored four points in 17 seconds to make the game 20-11 at the end of one.
 
Xavier was responsible for the first six points of the next quarter and would win the opening stages of the second 11-4 before a Butler timeout. Bulldog scoring came from Taborn on the inside. She scored from the right block to break up the Musketeer scoring spree and took an assist from Zoe Jackson on the next trip down to give BU 15 points.
 
Tenley Dowell hit the first 3-pointer of the game for Butler with 2:45 to play before the half. That shot would be the first of three for BU from long distance. Kendall Wingler would add the second triple just one minute later and Dowell would hit again on the next trip to get BU within 12 at halftime 38-26.
 
Dowell, Jaynes and Richard all scored field goals for Butler before the media timeout in the third quarter. The team effort continued with Emilia Sexton hitting free throws and Zoe Jackson driving through the lane with a layup.
 
The 'Dawgs trailed Xavier by 18 heading into the fourth and would never get any closer. Three games remain for Butler in the regular season.
 
Stat of the Game
Xavier scored 23 points off 20 BU turnovers.
 
Inside the Box Score
- Xavier recorded 23 assists on 33 made field goals
- Tenley Dowell ended the game with 11 points and four steals
- Alex Richard came off the bench to provide eight points
- Butler started the game 0-8 from 3-point range
- Five Musketeers scored in double figures vs. Butler
- Xavier shot 52.4 percent from the field (33-63)
 
Up Next
The Bulldogs will fly to New Jersey tomorrow in prep for a 2 PM tip at Seton Hall on Tuesday. Feb. 22.