Butler's Comeback Falls Short Against Youngstown State

Jan. 18, 2003

Final Stats

YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO - Youngstown State staved off a late Butler rally to hold on for a 72-69 win on Saturday afternoon at the Beeghly Center. The win lifted the Penguins to 4-11 overall and gave them their first victory in Horizon League action, as they improve to 1-4. Butler, which has lost four straight, dropped to 3-12 and 1-4 against league opponents.

Youngstown State quickly built upon its 41-33 halftime lead by scoring 12 of the second half's initial 14 points. Jessica Olmstead's jumper at 9:20 gave the hosts a 17-point lead at 61-44. But, four straight Butler three-pointers, including a pair from Lisa Pryor, put the Bulldogs right back in the ballgame.

Butler then closed out a 25-7 run with a Stephanie Boeke three-pointer at 2:21 to give the Bulldogs their first lead of the game since the initial minute at 69-68. Butler's lead was short-lived, though, as Jen Perugini's layup at 1:19 gave Youngstown State the one-point lead, and Olmstead sank a pair of free throws in the final seconds to seal the win for the Penguins.

The Bulldogs struggled in the earlygoing of the game as well. After Monaco's three-pointer at 12:57 tied the game at 11, the Penguins went on an 11-4 run, capped off by a pair of Johnston jumpers to pull ahead 22-15. Youngstown State took its biggest lead of the half at 7:05 when Forsythe's three-pointer gave her team a 27-18 edge.

The Bulldogs, fought back, though, outscoring Youngstown State 13-4 over the next five minutes to pull within 31-30. But, the Penguins scored ten of the next 13 point in the final minutes of the half to head into the locker room with an eight-point advantage.

Angel Mason led four Butler players in double-figure scoring, finishing with 15 points. Nancy Bowden added 13 points and eight assists, while Cortney Urquhart and Pryor each finished with 11 points. All of Pryor's points came in the second half.

Five players tallied double-digits in scoring for Youngstown State. Perugini led all players with 16 points. Devin Novak (15), Jessica Forsythe (13), Olmstead (13) and Maggie Johnston (11) all recorded double figures in scoring as well.

Youngstown State, which held a 35-30 rebounding edge, shot 48.3 percent from the field on the game. Butler finished shooting 42.9 percent from the half.

The Bulldogs return to action on Thursday (Jan. 23) when they host No. 16 UW-Green Bay in a Horizon League battle at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Game time is slated for 7 p.m.