Grizzlies Back in Win Column With Win Over Cloud County

EL DORADO, Kan. – Butler women's basketball got back in the win column as they defeated the Cloud County Thunderbirds 62-57 at the Power Plant on Wednesday evening.

Butler (12-4, 7-4 KJCCC) snapped a two-game losing streak, taking down Cloud County (11-5, 6-5) to move to 7-1 in home games this season.

Both teams shot poorly in the game with the Grizzlies (36.5%) narrowly outshooting Cloud County (34.4%) from the field. The Grizzlies made a season-low two three's (2-20), shooting a season-low 10% from beyond the arc. Butler outrebounded the T-Birds 45-33 and forced 18 turnovers, adding 20 points off the turnovers. The Grizzlies also outscored Cloud 36-20 in the paint. Neither team saw much production from its bench with Butler having four points off the bench and Cloud County five.

Grizzly freshman guard Ashley Singhateh turned in a career-best performance just one game after she tied her career-high in points scoring 21 on the road at Garden City. Singhateh finished with a double-double of 24 points and 11 rebounds while also adding five assists and three steals. She was 9-15 from the field and connected on six of her nine free throws. Her 10 third quarter points helped Butler outscore Cloud 24-14 in the third quarter, stretching the lead to 50-39 entering the fourth.

Fellow freshman guard Keegan Yarick added a double-double of her own with 14 points and 10 rebounds. It was her third double-double of the season as she also scored in double figures and pulled down 10 rebounds at Dodge City and at home vs. Coffeyville. Freshman forward Kenzie Galliart added 12 points and five rebounds while freshman guard Mya Mayberry had eight points, five assists, five steals and three blocks.

Cloud County was led by Bre Frazier's 16 points and four assists. TiAna Davis added 14 points and Lilliana Petersen finished with 13 points and eight rebounds

Butler built a 10-3 lead in the first quarter but Cloud County outscored the Grizzlies 9-2 over the final 3:52 to head to the second quarter knotted up 12-12. The second quarter was back-and-forth with the Grizzlies taking a one point lead, 26-25, into halftime as Singhateh made a layup with 22 seconds to go.

The third quarter is when the Grizzlies opened up a significant lead. Butler opened the half with seven straight points to take a 33-25 lead as Mayberry hit a three and Singhateh and Yarick converted layups. Butler took its biggest lead of the game, 15 points at 47-32, capping a 9-0 run. The Grizzlies entered the fourth quarter leading 50-39. The T-Birds outscored Butler 18-12 in the fourth quarter. They got within three points with four minutes to play and again with 43 seconds to play but Butler was able to hang on. Butler shot just 2-15 (13.3%) from the field in the fourth quarter but shot 8-10 from the free throw line and forced five Cloud turnovers.

The Grizzlies are back in action on Saturday in Arkansas City as they take on the Cowley Tigers with tipoff set for 1 p.m.