ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. – The Butler women overcame a double-digit deficit once on the road at Cowley, but couldn't do it twice, falling 74-65 to the Tigers on Monday night at W.S. Scott Auditorium. The loss breaks a four-game winning streak for the Grizzlies.
Butler led 6-2 early on, but Cowley would take its first lead at 10-9 and would build the lead to 20-13 after one quarter. Cowley then scored the first five points of the second quarter and led 25-13.
The Grizzlies would answer with a 10-2 run to get within four points at 27-23, but Cowley would go to the half leading 32-25.
Cowley hit a 3-pointer to start the third quarter, but that's when Butler mounted its comeback. An 8-0 run got the Grizzlies within two points and then Tamara Lee got a steal and layup to tie the game 41-41 with 4:55 left in the third quarter.
Butler briefly took the lead when Raven Prince made one of two free throws to make it a 46-45 lead with 2:49 left in the third, but then Cowley went on a 10-1 run to close the period and take a 55-47 lead going to the fourth.
The Grizzlies got as close as four points with seven minutes to go before Cowley started knocking down outside shots to widen the margin.
Kyeria Hannah led Butler with 17 points and eight rebounds as well as three blocked shots. Tamara Lee continued her stretch of scoring in double figures, getting 13 points along with eight rebounds. She is averaging 18.5 points over her past four games. Butler also got 12 points from Raven Prince.
Butler is now 17-7 overall and 7-6 in Jayhawk Conference play. The Grizzlies will be on the road Saturday for a 4 p.m. tipoff against Independence.