Butler stifles Tabor JV in season-opening 79-27 win

Butler stifles Tabor JV in season-opening 79-27 win

The Butler women opened the 2017-18 season with a suffocating defensive effort in a 79-27 win over Tabor JV on Friday at the Power Plant.

Butler held Tabor to 16 percent shooting, as the BlueJays made just nine shots in the game. Tabor scored just nine points in the second half.

Butler, meanwhile, jumped ahead 15-2 to start the game and led 23-6 after the first quarter. The Grizzlies were up 39-18 at halftime.

Ericka Mattingly, a transfer from Texas-Arlington, led the way with 15 points in her Butler debut. Kyla Callins scored 13 and Awreona Ransom had 10 points off the bench. She just missed a double-double, leading Butler with nine rebounds.

Butler shot 47 percent from the floor (35-75).

Butler is now 1-0 on the season. The Grizzlies will play home games on Monday against Bethel JV and Wednesday against Hesston before playing the Jayhawk Conference opener on Saturday, Nov. 11 against Garden City.