Grizzlies Stumble in Final Regular Season Contest

EL DORADO, Kan. – The Butler Community College women's basketball team lost 69-45 to the Cowley Tigers on Wednesday evening at the Power Plant.

Butler (22-7, 17-7 KJCCC) suffered its second biggest defeat of the season as the Tigers (20-9, 15-9) rolled to the 24-point  win picking up a fourth consecutive victory. Butler enters the 2024-25 Region 6 Tournament as the four seed and has a first-round bye. They will host the winner of Saturday's matchup between Cowley and Independence at the Power Plant on Tuesday at a time to be announced.

The Grizzlies had their worst shooting night of the season, shooting 23.3% (14-60) from the field including a season-low 2-26 (23.3%) from three-point range. Meanwhile Cowley knocked in 15 triples (15-38) and shot 40% from the field (24-60).

Cowley led for 37:14 minutes of regulation, leading by as much as 27 late in the fourth quarter. They had four players score in double figures led by Jaiden Smith's 20 points on 6-14 shooting from three. Hattie Pyle added 13 points, nine rebounds and three assists while Elysa Martinez finished with 13 points, seven assists and five rebounds. Alexcia Murphy added 10 points and seven rebounds off the bench.

The lone Grizzly to score in fouble figures was Ashley Singhateh who tallied 11 points and nine rebounds. Kenzie Galliart had seven points and 11 rebounds while Lucia Lara added eight points and eight rebounds.

Butler took a 4-3 lead at the 6:13 mark of the first quarter off a Galliart layup but Cowley responded with a Martinez triple to regain the lead. Lara tied the game 6-6 with a layup but the Tigers drained another three to go up 9-6 and never lost the lead again. Butler trailed 16-11 after the first quarter.

Midway through the second quarter Butler pulled within five at 21-16 but the Tigers outscored Butler 11-2 the rest of the way to take a 32-18 lead into halftime. Cowley connected on 4-10 threes in the quarter outscoring Butler 16-7. The Tigers outscored Butler 37-27 in the second half. The third quarter was Butler's undoing as Cowley shot a game-high 57.1% (8-14) from the field and 55.6% (5-9) from three while Butler was 3-14 from the field in the quarter.

The Grizzlies outrebounded Cowley 47-38 and shot 15-21 from the free throw line compared to Cowley's 6-6. Cowley assisted on 21 of their 24 made baskets and scored 20 points off Grizzly turnovers. The two teams split the regular season as Butler previously won 65-56 on Jan. 18th in Arkansas City.

A game time for Tuesday's quarterfinal matchup at the Power Plant will be announced when made available.