INDEPENDENCE, Kan. - The Butler women rallied in the final seconds for a 55-53 road victory at Independence on Wednesday.
Alecia Gulledge's steal and layup with 0.9 seconds was the difference for Butler, who trailed by three points heading into in the final minute.
Independence's Jordan Schoenberger missed a pair of free throws with 15.5 seconds left. Butler then answered on the other end as Raven Prince made a basket off a putback and was fouled. Prince hit the free throw to tie the game at 53-53.
Gulledge then was able to force a steal at midcourt and drove uncontested for the eventual game-winning layup.
Butler won the contest despite shooting just 29 percent (17 of 58) from the field and getting outrebounded by a 42-34 margin. Independence, who led by as many as seven in the first half, shot 44 percent (20 of 47).
Butler led by as many as eight points in the fourth quarter, taking a 46-38 lead with 6:37 remaining in the game on a Kyeria Hannah field goal. However, the Pirates would make a 13-2 run - including three consecutive field goals to go up 51-48 with 2:05 left.
Nakylia Carter pulled the Grizzlies back within one with a pair of free throws after a steal at the 1:23 mark, but Schoenberger added a basket just 17 seconds later to give Indy a three-point lead.
Butler recovered from a dismal second quarter, making just two field goals while going into halftime trailing 24-19. The Grizzlies hit just 21 percent from the field (7 of 32) in the first half.
Butler quickly turned the tide to start the second half with a 8-2 run and re-taking the lead on a Raegan Sanchez basket with 6:48 to play in the third quarter. After an exchange of leads, the Grizzlies added a 9-2 run to build a 38-32 lead.
The Grizzlies were led in scoring by Dakota Vann, who finished with 12 points and hit 8 of 10 foul shots. Gulledge added 11 points, while Kendriana Washington scored 10 points and pulled down five rebounds. Schoenberger was Indy's top scorer with 12 points and had nine rebounds.
Butler (7-2 overall, 4-2 conference) will host Dodge City on Saturday in a 6:00 p.m. contest at the Power Plant.
