INDIANAPOLIS – Butler's first BIG EAST home win came against the St. John's Red Storm on Friday night by the final score of 64-59. The Bulldogs outscored the Johnnies 35-28 in the second half to record their 10th win of the season.  
 
Riley Makalusky came out strong for the Bulldogs to score the team's first five points on Friday night and the Bulldogs would be in control early as the Red Storm started the contest 1-for-5 from the field. STJ shook off the slow start and would go on a 7-0 scoring run moments later to take a 9-5 lead over BU at the first stoppage.
 
Rachel Kent and Caroline Strande would get involved in Butler's offense over the final four minutes of the first and help BU tie the game at 16-16. Kent hit two 3-pointers during the final moments of the first quarter and Strande had five.
 
The Johnnies tried to pull away from Butler at the start of the second quarter with a 9-0 run, but Sydney Jaynes would get a hot hand to deliver seven-straight Butler points getting the 'Dawgs back within two at 27-25. St. John's would hang on to keep their two-point lead at the half, 31-29.
 
St. John's moved the ball inside to start the second half and Jillian Archer came up with the team's first six points. Butler responded with back-to-back 3-pointers from Jordan Meulemans and Strande which led to a Johnnie timeout. Lilly Stoddard checked into the game to guard Archer in the paint and her first points of the game would tie the contest at 37-37.
 
Karsyn Norman scored in transition on the next possession to give BU a lead and Strande would add a field goal to move the Bulldog scoring run to 12-0 (41-37).
 
Butler outscored St. John's 18-14 in the third to take a 47-45 lead into the fourth. Action would go back and forth at the start the final frame and the two teams would be separated by just three points with 3:33 on the game clock as Butler attempted their first free throws of the night.
 
Kent made one of two from the charity stripe and a pull-up jumper by Norman knotted the score at 57-57. Archer went back to work in the paint for St. John's and scored from the left block, but the 'Dawgs would counter with a top of the key 3-pointer from Strande to take a 60-59 lead.
 
The Red Storm were forced to foul late and Strande went 1-for-2 from the free throw line with under 30 seconds to play.
 
The Johnnies called a timeout to draw up a play off the miss, but it didn't work as Mayo was off target from 3-point range. Kent secured the rebound and split a pair from the line to give BU a three-point edge with 14.2 left. The Bulldogs got a huge stop in crunch time and Norman would ice the win with free throws.
 
Inside the Box Score
- Caroline Strande led Butler to victory with 18 points, nine rebounds and four assists
- Rachel Kent hit three 3-pointers to help record 13 points
- Riley Makalusky was the third Bulldog in double figures with 10 points
- Sydney Jaynes had seven points, six rebounds and six assists
- Karsyn Norman had eight points and six rebounds
- Butler started three freshmen against the Red Storm
- BU shot 11-for-24 from 3-point range and limited STJ to just two made 3-pointers
- Butler outrebounded St. John's 38-28
- The 'Dawgs outscored STJ 17-2 in fast break points
- Butler shot 42.9% from the field and 45.8% from 3
- Jillian Archer led St. John's with 23 points and 13 rebounds
- Unique Drake chipped in with 22 points
 
Up Next
The Bulldogs will spend Valentine's Day in Providence with a 7 PM tip against the Friars.