COFFEYVILLE, Kan. - The Butler women moved back up to .500 in conference play with a 64-61 road win at No. 23 Coffeyville on Saturday at Nellis Hall.
Butler (15-6 overall, 5-5 conference) led by as many as 10 points in the contest, before holding off a second-half surge by the Red Ravens. Tamara Lee led the Grizzlies with 19 points, seven rebounds and five steals, while Nakylia Carter and Janee Arnold added 11 points each.
Leading 13-10 after one quarter, the Grizzlies created cushion early in the second quarter. Tamara Lee opened the quarter with a three-pointer from the right wing, then Kyeria Hannah added a field goal.
After a Coffeyville basket, Nia Roberts hit a trey from the left wing, giving Butler a 21-12 lead with 7:51 before half. Roberts added a basket on the baseline at the 2:22 mark to put the Grizzlies up 26-16.
Leading 35-26 early in the third quarter, Coffeyville quickly closed the gap with a 9-0 run to tie the game with 6:05 left. After the Ravens' run, both teams would go back and forth as the quarter featured four ties.
Coffeyville's Alanie Fisher put the hosts up on top 43-42 with 1:52 remaining in the quarter by hitting 1-of-2 free throws.
Trailing by two, Butler answered by hitting 3-of-5 foul shots over the final 1:02 to take a one-point lead into the fourth quarter.
Tied at 49-49, Lee hit a field goal with 7:38 to play, then Nakylia Carter added a basket to put the Grizzlies up for good. Coffeyville came within two points on two occassions, the latter with 46.2 seconds remaining with Jazmine Torain made a basket but missed a free throw for a three-point play. Butler closed out the contest by hitting 3-of-4 foul shots.
Coffeyville was led in scoring by Torain, who scored 15 points, while Chanel Khammarath added 13. Patriece Dodson also scored in double digits for the Ravens as she was a perfect 5-for-5 from the field.
Despite 28 turnovers in the contest, the Grizzlies benefited from the Ravens' poor foul shooting as Coffeyville made just 45 percent (16-of-33) from the line. Butler made 67 percent (20-29).
Butler returns home for a pair of contests at the Power Plant, beginning Wednesday against Allen County at 5:30 p.m. The Grizzlies will also host Pratt on Saturday at 2 p.m.