Women’s Basketball Narrowly Falls to No. 5 Dodge City in Overtime

EL DORADO, Kan. – The Butler Grizzlies women's basketball team gave the fifth ranked Dodge City Conquistadors all they could handle on Saturday afternoon.

Butler (15-5, 10-5 KJCCC) ultimately came up short in overtime, being outscored 11-4 by the Conqs (20-2, 15-1) in the extra period.

The game saw 11 ties and 17 lead changes as the Grizzlies kept pace with the first place Conquistadors throughout.

Grizzly freshman Ashley Singhateh hit a jumper from just inside the free throw line with 36 seconds to play in regulation to tie the game at 61-all. Dodge City got the ball and Layla-J Cameron was able to put up two shots but both were off the mark and Grizzly freshman guard Mya Mayberry pulled down the rebound and called timeout with 3.2 seconds left. Following the timeout, Grizzly sophomore forward Lucia Lara had a contested layup attempt that missed and the teams headed to overtime.

Dodge City opened overtime scoring the first five points to make it 66-61. Butler called a timeout and Lara answered with a layup off an assist from Singhateh to pull the Grizzlies within three. The teams traded a pair of free throws with Savi Mi of Dodge and Singhateh for Butler converting both. On Dodge City's next possession, Konstantina Mantziori turned the ball over and Butler took control down three with 58 seconds to go. The Grizzlies got off three shots on the next possession with Kenzie Galliart misfiring on a jumper and Keegan Yarick missing a layup and a three. Dodge City grabbed the rebound and was fouled with Mia Jordan putting them ahead, making both free throws. The Grizzlies got another possession and were unable to score. Dodge City converted both free throws again to escape with the seven-point win.

It marked Butler's first overtime game of the season.

The Grizzlies (32.9%) were outshot by the Conqs (36.8%) in the game. Dodge City knocked down 11 triples (11-31) compared to Butler's six (6-24). Butler outrebounded Dodge City 49-40 as well as forcing 19 Conq turnovers compared to 16 of their own.

The Grizzlies led 18-15 after the first quarter and 32-29 at halftime. Dodge City outscored the Grizzlies 19-16 in the third quarter as the teams entered the fourth tied 48-48.

Lara led the Grizzlies with a season-high 17 points to go with eight rebounds, three assists and three blocks. Singhateh finished with 13 points and five rebounds. Mayberry added eight points, 10 rebounds, six assists and three blocks. Yarick finished with eight points and seven rebounds while Galliart pulled down eight rebounds. Destiny Smith added nine points off the bench, knocking down a team-high three triples.

Dodge City had four players finish with double figures scoring led by Becca Unruh's 18 points as she shot 6-12 from distance. Shorna Preston finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds while Layla-J Cameron had 13 points and five rebounds. Mia Jordan had 10 points and four rebounds off the bench.

The Grizzlies return to action on the road at Barton on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.