CINCINNATI – The Butler Bulldogs found the win column at Xavier on Wednesday night by defeating the Musketeers 90-57 at the Cintas Center. Four players scored in double figures for BU with Caroline Strande leading the way with a career-high 26 points. With the win, Butler improves to 9-10 on the year.
 
Butler shot 83 percent from the field over the opening five minutes of the contest to grab a 13-10 lead over Xavier. Caroline Strande and Riley Makalusky combined for 11 of BU's 13. That duo hit back-to-back 3-pointers early in the game to give BU an 8-2 lead but Aizhanique Mayo would even the score with a pair of triples.
 
Rachel Kent hit her first 3-pointer of the night with two minutes to play in the first to break a 13-13 tie and a put-back from Sydney Jaynes mixed with a Karsyn Norman 3-pointer would allow BU to enjoy a 21-15 lead after one.
 
The Bulldogs scored the first four points of the second quarter to push their lead to 10 at 25-15. After a Xavier timeout, Makalusky would hit three 3-pointers to help extend the BU advantage to 37-19.
 
Makalusky had a game-high 16 points at the break. She shot 5-for-6 from the field including 4-for-4 from behind the arc. Strande, Kent, and Norman also hit multiple shots from distance to put BU up big at the half 49-23.
 
Each team added 11 points to the scoreboard over the first four minutes of the second half. BU freshmen accounted for nine of the 11 to jumpstart the offense over the final 20 minutes. Butler also had a nice finish to the third quarter using a 6-0 run over the final three minutes to take a 71-40 lead into the fourth.
 
The Bulldogs never trailed in the contest and would close the final 10-minute stretch by outscoring the opponent 19-17. BU shot 53 percent in the first, 81 percent in the second, 53 percent in the third and 66 percent in the fourth to end the game with a 62.3 field goal percentage.
 
Inside the Box Score
- BU collected their first conference win of the season and their second road win
- The Bulldogs have won the last three meetings against Xavier
- Caroline Strande had 26 points, 10 rebounds and six assists
- Riley Makalusky scored 19 points for the 'Dawgs
- Sydney Jaynes posted 14 points, two steals and a block
- Rachel Kent had 12 points, six assists and five rebounds
- Karsyn Norman had eight points and six rebounds
- Cristen Carter came up with six points, five rebounds and two assists
- Butler outscored Xavier 28-8 in the second quarter
- Butler shot 65 percent from the field and 67 percent from 3-point range in the first half
- 10 of Butler 17 made field goals in the first half were 3-pointers
- BU was credited with 26 assists on 33 made field goals
- Butler crushed Xavier in rebounds 40-21
- Butler scored 20+ points in a quarter (1Q, 2Q, 3Q) for the first time since Dec. 21
- Riley Makalusky made the first start of her collegiate career tonight
- All three BU freshmen have started a game this season
- Jordan Meulemans was inactive at Xavier (Foot)
- Mackayla Scarlett scored a team-high 18 points for Xavier
 
Up Next
Butler will return to action on Saturday with road game at Marquette. The BEDN contest on FloHoops.com will tip at 5 PM ET / 4 PM CT.