INDIANAPOLIS – Butler and St. John's were separated by just one point at the half, but the Red Storm would outscore the Bulldogs 19-11 in the third quarter to help pull out a 73-61 victory at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Wednesday night. Each team had a post player with a double-double in the outcome. Leilani Correa led all players with 21 points.
 
How It Happened
St. John's went on a 10-0 scoring run to take an early 12-6 lead over Butler. All five Red Storm starters contributed with points over the first six minutes of action and the Johnnies would lead the 'Dawgs 15-8 at the first media timeout. Emilia Sexton and Zoe Jackson combined for all eight BU points. As a team, Butler hit three of their first 10 attempts, while St. John's knocked down six of their first 11 shots, including 3-for-6 from distance.
 
St. John's shot 50 percent (9-18) from the field in the first quarter to establish a 23-15 lead. Butler's bench was active over the final 3:48 of the first. Alex Richard, Sydney Jaynes and Kendall Wingler took the court and scored seven points for the home team during that stretch.
 
The St. John's lead dropped to just five points at the second quarter media timeout. Leilani Correa led all players with 11 first half points and the Bulldog bench continued to create with 16 points. The two teams would head into the half with St. John's up 39-38. Celena Taborn was key to the Butler offense early in tonight's game. She had eight points and was one of six BU players to have more than five points at the break.
 
St. John's opened up the second half on an 11-4 scoring run to increase their lead to eight points. The Johnnies made five of their first seven field goal attempts to spark the run. They went inside with the ball allowing Camree Clegg and Rayven Peeples to combine for nine of the 11 points.
 
BU called a timeout and scored out of the stoppage on a Trinity White pull-up from the BIG EAST logo. Over the final five minutes of the third, the Red Storm would continue to execute on the offensive end. They went on a 14-2 scoring run to hold a 58-49 lead heading into the fourth. Peeples led the charge with nine points in the third to move her game total to 15.
 
The Bulldogs scored the first four points of the fourth quarter, but that effort would be followed by six-straight for the Red Storm. With 4:19 to play in the game BU would call a timeout facing a 64-55 deficit. Correa had scored all six for STJ.
 
Each team exchanged 3-pointers with roughly two minutes to play in the game. Danielle Cosgrove hit from the corner for STJ and Jaynes would answer for BU. The last straw came late in the fourth after a St. John's timeout. The Red Storm drew up a play for Unique Drake and the junior buried a triple to keep a double figure advantage.
 
Stat of the Game
Celena Taborn posted a double-double with a team-high 13 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Inside the Box Score
- Butler's bench outscored St. John's bench 30-13
- The Bulldogs only had 13 turnovers, seven less than their season average
- There were only 16 fouls in the game (10 – BU and 6 – STJ)
- Butler only took two free throws (1-2)
- St. John's hit seven of their 11 3-pointers in the first half
- Leilani Correa scored 11 of her game-high 21 points in the first half
- Rayven Peeples had a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds
- Celena Taborn had eight points and eight rebounds at the half
- Trinity White had 10 points for the Bulldogs
- Sydney Jaynes hit three 3-pointers for BU to net nine points
- St. John's dished out 19 assists on 29 made field goals
- Each team shot over 40% from the field
- BU pulled down 15 offensive boards to outrebound STJ 40-31
 
Up Next
Butler will travel to Providence tomorrow to prep for a 7 PM game against the Friars on Friday night.