Butler women cruise to 97-45 victory over Neosho

Butler women cruise to 97-45 victory over Neosho

The Butler women rolled to a 97-45 win over Neosho on Tuesday night at the Power Plant to improve to 4-2 on the season.

The Grizzlies asserted themselves on the defensive end from the onset, holding Neosho scoreless for the first 5:51 of the game. Butler would take a 22-2 lead after a fast-break layup by Jurnee Reid with 11 minutes to play in the period. Butler would lead by as a many as 24 in the first half en route to a 40-18 halftime lead after Reid hit a jump shot to beat the buzzer.

Butler would go on a 13-0 run early in the second half and outscore Neosho 41-16 in the first 10 minutes of the period, spreading the lead to 81-34. Butler would later go on to lead by as many as 55 points.

For the game, the Grizzlies shot 54.8 percent (34-of-62) from the field and 88.9 percent (24-for-27) from the free throw line.

Neosho, who came into the game averaging 50.8 rebounds per game, including 23 offensive rebounds were held well below their season average as Butler won the rebound battle 39-18.

Butler was led by sophomore Katie Palmer, who finished with a game-high and season-high 24 points. Palmer shot 7-11 from the field and 7-8 from the free throw line. Jurnee Reid earned her first career double-double scoring 19 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, while Ashley Gibson finished with 17 points. Freshman Brayden Byrd tallied a career-high 10 points and six rebounds.

The No. 9 Grizzlies now travel to Seminole State (Okla.) on Saturday for a rematch of the opening game of the season, which Butler won 65-47. The game is scheduled to tip at 2 p.m.