INDIANAPOLIS - Butler fell to the Central Michigan Chippewas 68-59 on Wednesday evening at Hinkle Fieldhouse. With the loss, BU slides to 1-2 on the season while CMU improves to 2-1.
BULLDOG HIGHLIGHTS
- Lily Zeinstra led the way for BU with 16 points on an efficient 5-for-8 shooting performance from the floor. Zeinstra sank three 3-pointers and added three rebounds, one assist and one steal.
- Addison Baxter (14) and Saniya Jackson (12) rounded out the Bulldogs in double figures.
- Saniya Jackson and Neveah Jackson paced the squad on the glass, pulling down four rebounds apiece.
- Mallory Miller led the squad in assists with four.
- Butler forced 17 CMU turnovers in the contest.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN HIGHLIGHTS
- Madi Morson led CMU with 14 points on 6-for-19 shooting. Morson added four rebounds, two assists and three steals.
- Nekhu Mitchell (10), Zareia Chevre (10), Ayanna-Sarai Darrington (10) and Demetria Prewitt rounded out the Chippewas in double figures.
- Mitchell led CMU on the glass with a game-high seven rebounds.
- Chevre and Taylor Anderson paced the offense with four assists apiece.
- CMU forced 23 Butler turnovers and outrebounded BU 34-24.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Both sides traded buckets through the first few possessions before a 6-0 run from Butler put the Dawgs on top at the first media timeout. BU closed the quarter on a 13-6 run as the Dawgs held a 21-15 advantage at the end of the first.
- CMU started the second quarter on a 7-0 run before the visitors took a timeout at the six-minute mark of the frame. Both sides continued to trade buckets as the score was even at 28-28 with just over two minutes left in the quarter. The two sides headed to the break with CMU up 34-31.
- Both sides came out of the half trading buckets as the Chippewas held a narrow 43-41 lead at the halfway point of the third quarter. CMU forced four Butler turnovers over the course of the next four minutes as the visitors were able to extend their lead to seven. The seven-point advantage would hold until the end of the frame as the Dawgs trailed 52-45 heading into the final quarter.
- Butler held CMU to one made field goal in the first five minutes of the quarter as Butler stormed back to take the lead at 55-54 with five minutes left in the game. CMU responded with an 8-0 run giving the Chippewas a seven-point advantage. BU was unable to mount a comeback in the final three minutes of the game, dropping the contest 68-59.
UP NEXT
Butler will return to action on Sunday, Nov. 16 as BU welcomes Northern Kentucky to Hinkle Fieldhouse. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+. Fans can purchase tickets for the game at
Butlersports.com/buytickets.