Jan. 29, 2003
INDIANAPOLIS - Angel Mason scored seven of Butler's ten points in overtime, including the game-winning shot at the buzzer, to lift the Bulldogs' to a 71-69 triumph over Cleveland State on Wednesday evening at Hinkle Fieldhouse. The Horizon League victory over the Vikings snapped a six-game losing streak for Butler and improved the Bulldogs' record to 4-14 overall and 2-6 in league action. Cleveland State, which had beaten Butler in the previous five meetings, dropped to 5-13 and 3-5 in the league.
Butler's win over Cleveland State also eclipses the team's win total from last season, as the Bulldogs finished 3-26 overall and 1-15 in league action during the 2001-02 campaign.
Cortney Urquhart led Butler with 16 points and a career-high 14 rebounds. Mason also recorded a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds. Nancy Bowden finished with 15 points and Jessica Monaco added 10 points and eight rebounds.
Cleveland State jumped out on top early, as Erin Martin's layup gave the Vikings a 8-2 lead. A pair of free throws from Urquhart closed the gap to 10-9, but Cleveland State went on a 14-4 run from there to push ahead 24-13 with 6:17 remaining in the half.
Lisa Pryor scored five points and Nikki Budgake contributed seven as the Bulldogs quickly got back in the game, outscoring the Vikings 14-2 in the final 5:25 of the half to go into the locker room with a slim 27-26 advantage.
The Bulldogs kept rolling in the second half, scoring 14 of the first 18 points, and grabbing a 41-30 lead with 14:03 left to play in regulation. Butler took it's biggest lead of the game, 45-33, when Stephanie Boeke hit a three-pointer at 12:08. This was Boeke's first game back after suffering a sprained ankle over a week ago.
The Vikings climbed back in it, though, going on a 8-0 run to pull to within 45-41 with 9:35 in regulation. But, the Bulldogs turned several Viking turnovers into points over the next few possessions to boost their lead back up to double figures, 52-41.
Again, the Vikings fought back as Maria Rickards' three-point play closed the gap to 56-53. Bowden and Monaco each hit a pair of free throws to extend Butler's lead to 60-53 with 1:25 left, but Ashley Schrock hit a jumper in the paint on the next possession to again whittle the Bulldogs' lead down to five. The Bulldogs were unable to get a shot off the next time down the court, and Erika Roudebush countered with a three to cut Butler's lead to 60-58.
Bowden hit the tail-end of her free throws to give the Bulldogs a 61-58 advantage with thirteen seconds left, but Schrock , who finished with a double-double of 19 points and 15 rebounds, made all three of her free throws after being fouled by Mason while attempting a three-pointer from the baseline to send the game into overtime.
The Vikings scored first and led the entire overtime period until a pair of free throws by Monaco tied the game at 69 with 0:30 left. Cleveland State was unable to convert on its next possession and Bowden got the rebound and drove the length of the court before dishing it off to Mason for the layin at the buzzer.
"I am proud of our team for playing hard for 45 minutes - even through the mistakes," said first year head coach Beth Couture. "It is nice for us to get another win under our belts before we start the second half of the league season."
Butler shot 28.4 percent on the game, including a 3-of-19 (15.8 percent) performance from long range. However, the Bulldogs tallied a season-high 17 steals, while forcing 26 Viking turnovers. Cleveland State shot 41.5 percent on the game.
Roudebush recorded 16 points and Shannon Sword chipped in 12 points and eight rebounds for the Vikings.
Butler will try to make it two in a row when the Bulldogs take on Cleveland State again on Saturday (Feb. 1) at the Convocation Center. Tip off is slated for 1 p.m.