Women's Basketball Preview vs Cowley (February 22nd)

Cowley at #24 Butler

Wednesday, February 22nd | 5:30 PM Tipoff

The Power Plant | El Dorado, Kansas

Watch Live: butlergrizzlies.com/watchlive

Live Stats: tinyurl.com/bddzp3ka 

Series since 2011: Butler leads 11-9 | Last meeting: Butler won at Cowley on January 7th, 72-62

Massey Ratings Score Prediction: (masseyratings.com): Score: Cowley 62, Butler 72.

Other Massey Ratings Insights: Chance to win %: Butler 77%, Cowley 23%, Betting line: Butler -10.5, Game O/U: 135.5 points

Notes Compiled by Wyatt Ebersole

Opening notes:

• The Butler Grizzlies will play host to the Cowley Lady Tigers on Wednesday in the Power Plant at 5:30
• Despite their loss last Wednesday against Barton, the Grizzly Women clinched a first-round bye in the quickly approaching Region VI Playoffs and they can finish the year no worse than fourth and no better than second in the conference standings 
• The Grizzlies are looking to complete the two-game season sweep of the Tigers for the second time in the last three years
• Butler has won eight of their last ten, but have lost two of their last three
• Cowley is a team that struggles on the road this year, posting just a 4-7 record this year away from Ark City
• Last time against Cowley: The Grizzlies overcame an early 5-19 deficit and managed to defeat the Tigers by double-digits 72-62. Jada Knight put up 19 points in the game and was a fiery 5/6 from behind the arc.
• Butler has the #2 scoring defense in the conference and Cowley is third to last in point allowed
• Butler is a perfect 19-0 against unranked teams this year
• Butler is 11-2 at home this year, have won six straight in the Power Plant, and are 146-22 at home since 2012

Last action for the Grizzlies 

Wednesday, February 15th | Butler 47, Barton 63

• The Butler Women never got things clicking in a brutal loss on the road to Barton last Wednesday
• The Grizzlies shot a season worst 26.2% from the field in the game, going just 16/61
• The 16-point loss for the Grizzlies is their largest margin of defeat this season
• Jaila Harding was the lone brightspot for the Grizzlies, scoring 16 points on 4/7 shooting from the field and going 4/6 from three point land 

Quick scouting of the Cougars

• The Cowley Women are coached by the legendary Todd Clark who is in his 19th season leading the Lady Tiger Tribe. 
• Clark is the winningest coach in Cowley Basketball history, posting an overall record of 427-175 in his time as head coach
• Cowley is lead in scoring this season by sophomore guard Baylee Fincher, who averages just over 15 points per game
• One of the other top scoring threats for Cowley is the hot shooting point guard Gracie Gilpin who takes an average of eight three-point shots a game, the most of any Tiger, and she averages 11.2 points per game
• Three of Cowley's five normal starters are sophomore returners from last season

Series Notes (Since 2011)

• Butler leads the series 11-9 since 2011, and the teams have split the last six matchups
• The last three games in this series have been decided by ten points or less
• Butler is 7-2 playing at home against the Tigers
• Cowley won the last meeting in the Power Plant after jumping out to an early 24-9 lead on the Grizzlies that proved to be too much to overcome as Cowley won 61-55
  • Jaila Harding had 17 points in that loss last year to Cowley

Two coaches who win

• Mike Helmer is in his 15th season coaching the Grizzlies and he has not posted a losing record since the 2009-10 season when the Grizzlies went 14-17.
  • The Grizzlies have easily clinched a winning record and can finish no worse than 21-8 this season
• Cowley's Todd Clark is in his 19th season at the helm of the Tigers and has not had a losing record in a season since 2005-2006 campaign
  • A loss to Butler would make Cowley 14-14 this year and in danger of breaking this streak
  • Clark posted 14 straight seasons with 20+ wins from 2007-2020 

A Grizzly Win would…

• Improve them to 22-5 overall and 17-5 in conference play
• Bounce back from their brutal loss to Barton last Wednesday
• Move them to 12-2 this season
• Give the Grizzlies their fourth win in their last five games playing at home against Cowley
• Keep the Grizzlies in the race for second place in the conference

A Grizzly L would... 

• Drop them to 21-6 overall and 16-6 in conference play
• Be their third loss in their last four games
• Be their third loss in their last four games against Cowley

Looking ahead

The Grizzlies will travel to Garden City on Saturday for a 2PM clash with the Broncbusters