Youngstown State Escapes With Overtime Win At Butler

Feb. 22, 2003

INDIANAPOLIS - Jen Perugini hit a turnaround baseline jumper with 0.4 seconds left in regulation to send the game into overtime and the Penguins outscored Butler 12-6 in the final five minutes of action to escape with an 80-74 overtime victory on Saturday afternoon at Hinkle Fieldhouse. With the win, Youngstown State snaps a four-game losing skid, improving to 6-18 overall and 3-10 in the Horizon League. Butler falls to 5-20 on the season and 3-11 in the league.

Cortney Urquhart, who scored a career-high 21 points in the game, hit a layup with 2.5 seconds remaining in regulation to put Butler ahead 68-66. Stephanie Boeke stole the full-court inbounds pass intended for YSU's Maggie Johnston, which seemingly gave the Bulldogs the win, but was called for traveling when she fell down with the ball at the buzzer. After Youngstown State was awarded the ball and four tenths of a second back on the clock, Perugini caught the inbounds and hit the turnaround jumper from ten feet out to send the game into overtime.

Butler never led in the final five minutes of the game as the Penguins outscored Butler 12-6 during that period, while going 10-of-12 from the free throw line.

"We fought hard all game," said head coach Beth Couture. "There were just some unfortunate circumstances at the end of regulation and then I think our players were just out of gas in overtime. I am proud of our players for fighting back from being down in the second half. That showed a lot of character on their part."

Five straight points from Jessica Monaco propelled Butler out to a 16-6 lead. Youngstown State climbed back to within 18-12, off a pair of free throws from Jessica Olmstead at 10:17, but the Bulldogs would go on a 9-2 run from there to take its biggest lead of the game at 27-14 with eight minutes remaining in the half.

The Penguins quickly recovered from their double-digit deficit, outscoring Butler 20-4 over the final 6:20 of the half. Jessica Forsythe's baseline three-pointer at the buzzer gave Youngstown State its first lead of the game at 36-33.

Youngstown State forged ahead in the second half, taking a 46-38 lead with 13:40 remaining in regulation. Five straight points from Boeke gave Butler a 54-51 edge, but Youngstown State would answer with a 7-0 run to go up four with 7:50 left. The Penguins held onto their slim lead until Lisa Pryor hit a pair of free throws to tie the game at 66 with 1:03 left. Youngstown State missed its go-ahead attempt, setting up Urquhart's basket with 2.5 seconds remaining.

"Shooting just 54 percent (6-11) from the free throw line in the second half ended up costing us," added Couture. "But despite that, we did a lot of things right today. It is just unfortunate that the outcome of the game doesn't reflect that."

In addition to Urquhart's 21 points, Angel Mason finished with 16 and Jessica Monaco with 10. Nancy Bowden's game-high 10 assists moves her into fourth place in a single season with 168 on the year.

Perugini led all players with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Forsythe added 20 points on 9-of-10 shooting from the field and Olmstead chipped in 16 points and eight assists.

Butler outrebounded Youngstown State 41-34, including 21-7 on the offensive glass. The Penguins shot 53.8 percent (28-52) on the game, while Butler was 27-of-72 (.375), including a 1-of-10 performance from the field in overtime.

Butler will wrap up the regular-season portion of its schedule on the road, traveling to No. 21 UW-Green Bay on Thursday (Feb. 27) before taking on UW-Milwaukee on Saturday (Mar. 1).

Cortney Urquhart, who scored a career-high 21 points in the game, hit a layup with 2.5 seconds remaining in regulation to put Butler ahead 68-66. Stephanie Boeke stole the full-court inbounds pass, which seemingly gave the Bulldogs the win, but was called for traveling when she fell down with the ball at the buzzer. After Youngstown State was awarded the ball and four tenths of a second put back on the clock, Perugini caught the pass from half court inbounds pass and hit the turnaround jumper from ten feet out to send the game into overtime.

Butler never led in the final five minutes of the game as the Penguins outscored Butler 12-6 during that period, while going 10-of-12 from the free throw line.

"We fought hard all game," said head coach Beth Couture. "There was just some unfortunate circumstances at the end of regulation and then I think our players were just out of gas in overtime. I am proud of our players for fighting back from being down in the second half. That showed a lot of character on their part."

Five straight points from Jessica Monaco propelled Butler out to a 16-6 lead. Youngstown State climbed back to within 18-12, off a pair of free throws from Jessica Olmstead at 10:17, but the Bulldogs would go on a 9-2 run from there to take its biggest lead of the game at 27-14 with eight minutes remaining in the half.

The Penguins quickly recovered from their double-digit deficit, outscoring Butler 20-4 over the final 6:20 of the half. Jessica Forsythe's baseline three-pointer at the buzzer gave Youngstown State its first lead of the game at 36-33.

Youngstown State forged ahead in the second half, taking a 46-38 lead with 13:40 remaining in regulation. Five straight points from Boeke gave Butler a 54-51 edge, but Youngstown State would answer with a 7-0 run to go up four with 7:50 left. The Penguins held onto their slim lead until Lisa Pryor hit a pair of free throws to tie the game at 66 with 1:03 left. Youngstown State missed its go-ahead attempt, setting up Urquhart's basket with 2.5 seconds remaining.

"Shooting just 54 percent (6-11) from the free throw line in the second half ended up costing us," added Couture. "But despite that, we did a lot of things right today. It is just unfortunate that the outcome of the game doesn't reflect that."

In addition to Urquhart's 21 points, Angel Mason finished with 16 and Jessica Monaco with 10. Nancy Bowden's game-high 10 assists moves her into fourth place in a single season with 168 on the year.

Perugini led all players with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Forsythe added 20 points on 9-of-10 shooting from the field and Olmstead chipped in 16 points and eight assists.

Butler outrebounded Youngstown State 41-34, including 21-7 on the offensive glass. The Penguins shot 53.8 percent (28-52) on the game, while Butler was 27-of-72 (.375), including a 1-of-10 performance from the field in overtime.

Butler will wrap up the regular-season portion of its schedule on the road, traveling to No. 21 UW-Green Bay on Thursday (Feb. 27) before taking on UW-Milwaukee on Saturday (Mar. 1).