The short handed Butler Grizzlies women's basketball team just couldn't come all the way back from a slow start as they fell to Garden City, 47-39, in theIR first game of 2022 in Garden City on Wednesday.

The Grizzlies, short four players and in their first game since December 13th, came out slow, and gave up an 8-0 run to start the game. The Grizzlies did not make a field goal until Jaila Harding hit a layup with 6:22 left in the second quarter, and the Grizzlies scored just nine points in the half, going into the break with a ten point deficit. The Grizzlies finally warmed up in the second half, and outscored the Broncbusters in the second half, 30-28, but it would not be enough, as Butler would get to within four points but never could come all the way back.

Jaila Harding was the only Grizzly player who reached double figures, finishing with 14 points, followed by Jada Knight who had nine. Emily Mandamin hit back-to-back threes in the third quarter to finish with six points, and the Grizzlies, despite shooting just 29% from the field, shot 50% from behind the arc as a team.

It was a good defensive performance for the Grizzlies, as they held Garden to 36% and forced 25 Broncbusters turnovers, but it was a rare night where the Grizzlies got beat inside. Butler got outrebounded, 35-24, and gave up 28 points in the paint. 

The Grizzlies drop to 12-3 with the loss, and 7-3 in conference play. They'll look to bounce back on Saturday, with their first home game of the spring semester, when they welcome first place Independence to the Power Plant for a 2:00pm matchup.