Butler Claims 77-71 Win Over YSU in Horizon League Tournament

March 5, 2003

Box Score

GREEN BAY, WIS. - Four players scored in double figures as the Butler women's basketball team captured a 77-71 win over Youngstown State in the play-in game of the Horizon League Championships Wednesday evening at UW-Green Bay's Phoenix Sports Center. With the win, the Bulldogs (6-22), seeded ninth in the tournament, will face the top-seeded Phoenix, which is ranked No. 22 in the nation, in tomorrow's quarterfinal round at 7 p.m. EST.

Lisa Pryor led Butler with 19 points, which included a career-high six three-pointers. Cortney Urquhart added 15 and Jessica Monaco finished with a career-best 14 points. Nancy Bowden narrowly missed a double-double with 10 points and nine assists.

Angel Mason's layup at 19:36 put Butler on the board first, and the Bulldogs never let up from there. Pryor's three-pointer at 13:10 gave Butler its first double-digit lead, 21-11, and ended a stretch of four straight three-pointers for the Bulldogs. Youngstown State (6-22), the tournament's No. 8 seed, narrowed the gap to four on a pair of occasions throughout the first half, but the Bulldogs 7-of-11 (.636) performance from long range in the initial 20 minutes, helped Butler go into the locker room with a ten-point edge, 43-33.

"Our shooting in the first half really made the difference for us," said head coach Beth Couture. "We really needed that lead to hold on. Our kids did a great job executing and did everything we could have asked of them on both ends of the court."

The Penguins' defense stepped up in the second half, as the Bulldogs were limited to just 29.6 percent (8-27) shooting from the field. Butler led by as many as 12 in the second half, but Youngstown State managed to pull to within three, 72-69, with 52 seconds remaining. But the Bulldogs sealed the win by connecting on five of its eight foul shots in the game's final minute.

Youngstown State had won both of the regular season meetings, defeating Butler 72-69 at the Beeghly Center and 80-74 in overtime at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

"We have had two great battles with Youngstown State this season," said Beth Couture. "The overtime game at Hinkle Fieldhouse was a really emotional game for our girls and I know that made them even more determined for tonight's game."

Jen Perugini led Youngstown State with 19 points. Maggie Johnston finished with 15 and Jessica Olmstead chipped in 13. The Penguins shot 44.6 percent (25-56) on the game, but were plagued by 18 turnovers.

Tomorrow's matchup against the Phoenix pairs Butler with UW-Green Bay in the quarterfinals of the league tournament for the third straight season. As the tournament's top-seed, the Phoenix enter tomorrow's battle with a 24-3 overall record.

"Green Bay is a tremendous team and tomorrow will definitely be a challenge for us," added Couture. "But, that is why we play the game. We look forward to playing in front of a great crowd and I know we will come out focused and determined."