PRATT, Kan. - Behind a double-double from sophomore Dakota Vann, the Butler women reached the 20-win plateau for a fifth consecutive season with a 58-45 win at Pratt on Saturday.
Vann scored 22 points and pulled down 11 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who improved to 20-6 overall and 17-6 in conference play. Kendriana Washington added 11 points, while Raven Prince finished with 10.
Butler trailed by as many as five early in the contest, but managed to take a 14-10 lead after one quarter. The Grizzlies then limited Pratt to just three points in the second quarter enroute to a 29-13 halftime lead.
Pratt worked its way back into the game, closing within four points (42-38) with 8:10 to go. However, Butler would eventually pull away late, getting the lead back to double digits with just over a minute remaining.
Butler shot 34 percent (23 of 66) from the field while holding Pratt to 28 percent (14 of 49). The Grizzlies outrebounded Pratt by a 45-31 margin and forced 23 turnovers.
The Grizzlies will host Coffeyville on Saturday in a 5:30 p.m. contest that could decide third place in the Jayhawk Conference standings. Butler currently is one game back of the Ravens (19-7 overall, 18-5 conference), who defeated the Grizzlies 54-46 back on Jan. 7.
NOTES: With Saturday's win, Butler head coach Mike Helmer picked up his 199th victory. Helmer has guided the Grizzlies to 20-win seasons in six of the last seven seasons and has averaged 25.8 wins over the last five seasons... Helmer remained undefeated against Pratt, improving to 18-0 overall vs. the Beavers.