The Butler Grizzlies used a 42-point second half to dispatch the Tabor Bluejays in the second game of the season at the Power Plant on Tuesday night, comfortably defeating Tabor's JV squad 82-57.
The Bluejays proved to be a tough opponent for Mike Helmer's squad, as the Grizzlies held only a two point lead after the first quarter and went into the locker room with just a 40-35 lead. But it was all Butler in the second half as they outscored Tabor 24-10 in the third quarter to finally give themselves some breathing room.
The Grizzlies were led by freshman forward Freddie Wallace, who came off the bench and was unstoppable all game, finishing with 29 points to lead all scorers, earning a career high in what was just her second collegiate game. Wallace finished 14-21 from the field and also earned six offensive rebounds. Wallace was one of four players to finish in double figures, as Jaila Harding was next in line with 13, while Ashton Conley scored 12 and Maycee James scored 11. The Grizzlies shot 49% as a team despite a cold night from deep, making just three of their 11 shots from behind the three point line. Butler made up for it with 15 offensive rebounds and 24 second chance points. The Grizzlies also earned 62 points from the paint and 45 bench points.
Defensively, the Grizzlies held Tabor to 38% from the field and just 9-23 from behind three point range. Butler won the rebounding battle 37-28 and allowed only two second chance points. The Grizzlies were led on the glass by Wallace and Conley who both finished with eight rebounds. The Grizzlies also forced 28 Bluejay turnovers which turned into 31 points off turnovers. The Grizzlies amassed 17 steals led by Maycee James who earned five. The Bluejays were held to just 12 points in the paint.
Butler improves to 2-0 on the year and they will go on the road for the first time this season this weekend, heading south to Oklahoma for two games, the first against Northern Oklahoma College-Enid on Friday before facing Northern Oklahoma College-Tonkawa on Saturday at the Enid Classic.
