EL DORADO, Kan. – The Butler women snapped a 29-game losing streak to Seward County with a 64-61 win Saturday evening at the Power Plant.
The Grizzlies hadn't beaten Seward in the past 14 years, dating back to the 1998-1999 season. But on Saturday, the Grizzlies withstood a strong second-half challenge and scored the final four points of the game to get the win.
Butler started by jumping out to a 12-4 lead just four minutes into the game. The Grizzlies still led 19-14 after a basket by Tysia Manuel with 9:34 to play in the half. Butler would go cold from the field at that point and Seward would score 10 straight points to take a 24-19 lead with 5:51 left in the half.
Momentum would change yet again as the Grizzlies closed the half on a 12-2 run to lead 31-26 at the break. Butler would stretch that lead to as many as 10 points after Samantha Satterlee hit a 3-pointer with 16:36 to play that made the score 38-28.
The Saints would surge back, though. After a layup by Shanise Jones with 3:16 to play, Seward led 58-55. The two teams exchanged the lead for the next two minutes, with Seward going up 61-60 after a 3-pointer by Madison McLain with 37 seconds to play.
A Seward foul with 10.7 seconds to play put Samantha Satterlee at the line, where she made both free throws to put Butler back in front, 62-61. The Grizzlies then forced a turnover at the other end and Jamillah Bonner iced the game with two more free throws with 5.5 seconds remaining.
Bonner would lead Butler with 17 points and 10 rebounds. It is her ninth double-double of the season. Ashlee Ivy scored 16 and Samantha Satterlee finished with 10 points for the Grizzlies.
Butler is now 23-6 on the season and 11-4 in Jayhawk West Conference play. The Grizzlies are alone in third place in the conference standings, just a game behind Garden City in second place. Butler will the finish the regular season on the road at Dodge City on Wednesday and then host a first-round Region VI playoff game next Saturday.