The Butler women outscored Cloud County by 20 points in the final 12 minutes, including a 14-0 run to start the fourth quarter, on their way to a 66-55 victory on Wednesday at the Power Plant.
Butler led by seven points early in the first quarter, but a 10-2 Cloud run helped the T-Birds take a 17-15 lead going to the second quarter. Butler still trailed 31-30 at the half.
The Grizzlies got within a point on three different occasions early in the third quarter. Cloud, however, got a pair of 3-pointers and a layup, pushing the lead to nine at 45-36 with 2:23 left in the third quarter.
Butler closed the gap to three points late in the third on six straight points from Raven Prince, but Cloud would get another 3-pointer at the end of the period and led 50-44 going to the final quarter.
Butler then opened the quarter on a 14-0 run, with eight points from Dakota Vann and six from Kendriana Washington, turning the six-point deficit into a 58-50 lead with 5:52 remaining.
Cloud would get within five points at 60-55 with 3:09 to go, but the Grizzlies scored the final six points of the game to push the final margin to double digits for the only time in the game.
Neither team shot the ball well, as Butler shot 37 percent while Cloud was at 33 percent. Butler won despite going 0-6 from 3-point range. The Grizzlies were 75 percent from the free throw line, making 18 of 24 attempts.
Butler was led in scoring by Dakota Vann, who had a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Kendriana Washington added 16 points, four rebounds and four assists.
Butler improves to 19-6 on the season and is 16-6 in Jayhawk Conference play. The Grizzlies remained tied for fourth place in the Jayhawk Conference standings with Cowley, who rolled to a 92-47 win at Dodge City. Both Butler and Cowley are now a half-game behind Coffeyville for third place, as the Red Ravens will play at Colby on Thursday night.
Cloud falls two games behind Butler in the conference standings at 17-8 and 14-8. Butler will be on the road Saturday at Pratt for a 2:00 p.m. contest.
