COFFEYVILLE, Kan. — The Butler women could not overcome a 37-point performance by Coffeyville sophomore guard Lucy Burke, as she helped the Red Ravens defeat the Grizzlies 65-55 Thursday at Nellis Hall.
Burke scored 29 of her 37 points in the opening half, hitting six three-pointers and making 11-of-13 shots for Coffeyville, who led 39-28 at halftime. She accounted for Coffeyville's first 16 points of the game, including three treys in the first three minutes of the contest.
Butler (18-9 overall, 15-9 conference) never led in the contest and trailed 22-15 after one quarter. Taylor Birch hit a pair of three-pointers midway through the quarter, then Raegan Sanchez's field goal with 3:22 remaining in the quarter had Butler within one, 13-12.
Burke continued her torrid scoring pace in the second quarter, scoring 13 points and helping the Ravens to an 11-point halftime lead.
The Grizzlies spent the third quarter trailing in double-digits, but climbed back within six, 55-49, with 3:53 remaining on an Awreona Ransom basket. Ransom added two more field goals to keep pace with Coffeyville, but Butler could not close the gap any closer in the final 1:43.
Mattinlgly led Butler with 14 points, while Ransom finished with 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting.
With the loss, Butler falls into a three-way tie with Cloud County and Garden City for fifth place. Butler will host Neosho County in the home regular-season finale at the Power Plant on Saturday at 5:30 p.m, then finish out the regular season at Colby on Monday.