Butler Women's Basketball Team Concludes 2001-02 Season

March 4, 2002

BULLDOGS CONCLUDE 2001-02 CAMPAIGN: The Butler women's basketball team ended a difficult season with a 65-43 loss to top-seeded UW-Green Bay on Thursday (Feb. 28) in the Horizon League Tournament quarterfinals. The Phoenix went on to defeat Detroit in the Tournament's finals, advancing to the NCAA Tournament, while Butler, seeded ninth in the tournament, capped off its campaign with a 3-26 overall record. This was the second consecutive year that Butler had been ousted by the Phoenix in the conference tournament.

MOVING ON UP: The Bulldogs picked up their third win of the season with a 74-61 triumph over Wright State in the Horizon League Tournament play-in game. The win over the eighth-seeded Raiders marked Butler's first in a conference tournament since the Bulldogs' 80-54 victory over Loyola in the first round of the 1998-99 tournament. The Bulldogs had narrowly lost to Wright State in both of their regular-season outings, falling 77-74 at the Ervin J. Nutter Center on Jan. 26 and 77-72 at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Feb. 21.

SUPER SMITH: Sophomore Tiffany Smith tied her career-high by recording a team-best 21 points in Butler's win over Wright State. The reserve guard was 7-of-11 from the floor on the game, including a 4-of-6 performance from long range, while playing just 20 minutes. She had previously set her career-best at Youngstown State on Jan. 5.

BALANCING ACT: In addition to Tiffany Smith's 21 points, four other players scored in double-figures for the Bulldogs in their win over Wright State. Sophomores Nancy Bowden and Sarah Bolten and freshman Cortney Urquhart each recorded 12 points and freshman Angel Mason added 11 points. This marked the first time all season that five players had reached double-digits in scoring for the Bulldogs in one outing.

PLAYING WITH HART: Freshman Cortney Urquhart tallied her second double-double of the season against the Raiders, adding 11 rebounds to her 12 points. Urquhart, who started in 28 of the team's 29 games, ranked fifth on the team in scoring (7.5 ppg) and ranked second on the squad with 5.3 rebounds per game. Urquhart also shot a team-best 43.6 percent from the field on the year.

ALL-LEAGUE HONORS: Sophomore Nancy Bowden and freshman Maria Marchesano were honored by the Horizon League on Tuesday (Feb. 27) at the league banquet. Bowden was one of five players to earn a spot on the league's all-defensive team, while Marchesano was cited to the all-newcomer squad.

MARCH MADNESS: Freshman Maria Marchesano posted an impressive rookie campaign, ranking third on the team in scoring (8.1 ppg) and ranking second on the team in scoring (10.1 ppg) in league play. The 5-10 guard/forward tied a school record earlier in the season by connecting on seven three-pointers en route to a career-high 23 points. She holds the school records for three-pointers made (64) and attempted (176) in a single season.

FREEBIES: Sophomore Sarah Bolten went a perfect 9-for-9 from the free throw line in the league tournament to end the season shooting a stellar 90.1 percent from the charity stripe, which ranks second on Butler's single season charts. Bolten, who has made her last 25 free throws, shot 96.9 percent from the line in league action. Her only miss against a league opponent came against UIC on Jan. 19.

TREY-MENDOUS!: Butler's 12 three-point field goals made against Wright State in regular-season action set a new team record, eclipsing the old mark of 11 treys set against Detroit on Jan. 30, 1999. The Bulldogs made three treys against the Raiders and four three-pointers against the Phoenix in the league tournament, extending their streak with a three-point field goal to 37 games. Butler connected on 186 shots from downtown this season, setting a new team record, and attempted 611 field goals from long range, which also sets a new school mark. Last season, the Bulldogs made just 66 three-pointers on the season.

TAKE A BOW: Sophomore Nancy Bowden posted 76 steals this season, moving her into eighth place on Butler's single season list. Bowden ranked second on the team in scoring this season (10.8 ppg) and led the team with 113 assists.

NEW ADDITIONS: The Butler women's basketball team inked two recruits in the early signing period. Stephanie Boeke, a 5-10 point guard from Minster, Ohio and Nicole Budgake, a 6-3 forward/center from North Canton, Ohio are the newest additions to the 2002-03 roster.