Butler Topped By Indy in Overtime

INDEPENDENCE, Kan. – No. 25 Butler women's basketball fell 73-67 to Indy in overtime at the ICC Fieldhouse on Saturday afternoon.

Butler (20-7, 14-7 KJCCC) has lost three of its last four including two overtime losses in that stretch. Indy (15-12, 9-12) swept the season series from the Grizzlies with then win.

Freddie Wallace finished with 19 points and eight rebounds while Dayuna Colvin had 18 points and eight rebounds. J'unti Franklin got her fourth start of the season and made the most of it, finishing with 13 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and four steals.

Both teams shot below 35% from the field, Butler at 31.2% (24-77) and Indy at 33.3% (23-69). The Grizzlies shot just 2-18 from distance while Indy knocked down 10 triples (10-34). Each team made 17 free throws and the Grizzlies outrebounded Indy 54-43.

Indy had two 20-point scorers. Merveille Nkoyock finished with a game-high 24 points, seven rebounds and four steals. In Indy's win over Butler earlier this season at the Power Plant on Jan. 10th, Nkoyock poured in 34 points and eight rebounds. Jasirae Vick put in 20 points for the Pirates on Saturday.

The game was intense throughout and neither team could build a substantial lead. Butler led 19-17 after the first quarter and 37-34 at halftime. Neither squad outscored the other in a quarter by more than two until overtime.

Butler entered the fourth quarter with a 51-49 lead. The final quarter was tight with neither team taking more than a four-point lead. The final minute was frantic. With the game tied 63-63, neither team was able to put the ball in the basket. Colvin had a look at a layup with 20 seconds to play but it was blocked by Indy's Morane Dossou. On the ensuing Indy possession, the Pirates turned the ball over as Maycee James came away with the steal for the Grizzlies. Butler then turned the ball over with one second remaining and Indy called timeout. They did not get a shot off out of the timeout and the game went to overtime.

Butler was outscored 10-4 in the extra period. Indy scored the first six points to take a 69-63 lead before Wallace made a layup off an assist from Colvin to stop the bleeding with 2:54 to play. Colvin made a layup to cut it to 69-67 but Indy scored the final four points down the stretch to claim the win.

The Grizzlies now turn their attention to Wednesday as Pratt travels to town for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff at the Power Plant.