Butler scored five points in the final two seconds of the game but come up short against No. 20 Northern Oklahoma College-Enid Monday night losing their third game of the season 69-67.
It was a back and forth game with both teams getting up and down the court with a purpose throughout the first half. Butler held a two-point 16-14 lead at the end of one and would extend that to a four-point lead, 35-31 after the first two quarters of play.
A Carissa Beck three pointer and a Maddie Livingston long two-pointer under a minute left in the half gave Butler a four-point cushion heading into the break.
It was a fast paced third quarter which led to a number of Grizzly turnovers allowing the Jets to close the gap and lead a few different times in the quarter. Carissa Beck again hit a three-pointer with under a minute to play in the third quarter to give Butler a 49-46 lead at the end of three.
The Jets took the lead halfway through the fourth quarter and would never relinquish it. Tamara Nard got Butler within one point with a bucket at the 2:13 mark but the Jets responded on the other end with an easy basket. Again, Nard made a layup, this time to get the Grizzlies within two-points, 64-62 with 1:15 left in the game. A Butler foul would extend the Jet lead to four 66-62. On the ensuing possession, Butler would miss three back to back shots with the third one being rebounded by the Jets. Enid made their free throws when they needed to late, and held a five-point, 69-64 lead with 1.2 seconds left to play. Camille Downs knocked down a 30' three-pointer at the buzzer but it wouldn't be enough, and the Grizzlies fell 69-67.
"We just don't have any toughness about us," said head coach Mike Helmer in his post-game interview. "We had our chances to get stops and we didn't. They scored on plays we just called."
This is the second time this season that the Butler defense has given up 69 points. Butler allowed 38 second half points and 23 in the fourth quarter.
"In all my years coaching, I have never had a team that gave up over 60 points per game," said Helmer. "It is a lack of toughness and lack of desire to stop someone. We don't want to play defense."
Butler (4-3 overall) turns around for another non-conference matchup Tuesday night, November 12 at 5:30 p.m. as they host Bethel College junior varsity in the Power Plant. The Grizzlies will get another crack at the Jets next Tuesday, November 19, this one in El Dorado at 5:30 p.m.