VILLANOVA – The Butler Bulldogs recorded a 55-52 win at Finneran Pavilion on Saturday afternoon to pick up their third-straight conference win. Caroline Strande led the Bulldogs to victory with a team-high 19 points. With the win, BU moves to 12-13 on the year and dropped Villanova to 16-9.
 
Butler went on a 7-0 run to grab a 7-3 lead over Villanova, but the Wildcats would fight back to win the first quarter 15-14. Lucy Olsen only missed one shot over the opening 10 minutes to lead Villanova with seven points. Caroline Strande countered for Butler with six.
 
The Bulldogs silenced the crowd over the opening stages of the second quarter with an 11-0 scoring run. Sydney Jaynes sparked the scoring spree with four-straight points and Jordan Meulemans would bury a corner 3 to extend the BU lead to 25-17.
 
Butler outscored Villanova 17-10 in the second quarter to own a 31-25 halftime lead. Jaynes led all Bulldogs with eight points and Olsen was in the book with a game-high 12. Butler's defense limited the Wildcats to just 35 percent shooting and the 'Dawgs got the ball inside to outscore Nova 18-6 in the paint.
 
The Wildcats quickly knotted the score at 32-32 at the start of the third quarter, but a 6-0 Butler run would follow near the midway point to get the 'Dawgs back on top. Defense was the name of the game for Butler in the third as they held Villanova scoreless for over six minutes to take a five-point lead into the fourth.
 
Each team added one field goal to their game total over the first four minutes of the fourth until Jordan Meulemans hit a transition 3-pointer for BU from the right wing. Butler's next 3-pointer was a huge shot from Strande, made from the top of the key that gave the 'Dawgs a 49-40 lead with 2:42 to play in the game.
 
The lead was trimmed to six on Villanova's next possession as the Wildcats knocked down a 3-pointer out of a timeout. Butler never gave up the lead but Olsen would get the home team back within three with 18 seconds remaining. The comeback effort fell short and Nova was forced to foul in an effort to extend the contest. The strategy would fail as Strande stepped to the line and calmly made a pair to ice the victory.
 
Inside the Box Score
- Caroline Strande nearly posted a double-double with 19 points and nine rebounds
- Sydney Jaynes ended the game with 12 points, five rebounds and three assists
- Butler led Villanova for nearly 30 minutes on Saturday afternoon
- The Bulldogs outscored Villanova 17-10 in the second quarter
- BU outrebounded Nova 40-34
- Butler moved ahead of DePaul in the BIG EAST standings with the win
- Lucy Olsen paced the Wildcats with 21 points
- Christian Dalce had 14 rebounds, seven blocks and seven points
 
Up Next
Butler returns to action on Wednesday night with a 6:30 tip vs. Xavier on FS2.