Graduate student Rachel McLimore (40) drives around a screen in practice on Oct. 6. Photo by Lauren Hough.
JIA SKRUDLAND | SPORTS REPORTER | jskrudland@butler.edu
SARAH HOHMAN | SPORTS CO-EDITOR | shohman@butler.edu
The women’s basketball team won their first game since Dec. 22, 2021 in their season opener Wednesday night against Chicago State, 84-57. Sophomore Sydney Jaynes was the only returning player from last season’s squad in the starting lineup. Graduate students Shay Frederick and Rachel McLimore, junior Anna Mortag and first-year Jordan Meulemans joined Jaynes on the court to start the season. Let’s go beyond the box score of the Bulldogs’ victory over the Cougars.
Hot off the bench
The Butler bench was ready for action as they scored more than half of the team’s total points. Junior Caroline Strande and graduate student Kelsy Taylor combined for 22 points off the bench with senior Tenley Dowell chipping in six. Taylor also contributed a team-high eight rebounds.
Head coach Austin Parkinson acknowledges the impact those three made in the second half.
“Off the bench we had some really nice contributions from Caroline, Tenley and Kendall, really raising the level of play in the third quarter,” Parkinson said. “So something to build on, but a good start to the season.”
Junior Kendall Wingler added to the bench total with nine points off an efficient 3-5 performance from beyond the arc. A 29% three-point shooter last season, Wingler has shown signs of improvement from deep.
Four players played more than 15 minutes off the bench for the Bulldogs. While it is too early to tell just how deep Parkinson will want his rotation to be, quality play from his bench will likely give him more options to work with going forward.
First-quarter struggles spark offensive surge
The first quarter started off slow for the Dawgs. After 10 minutes of play, Butler shot just 2-14 from the field and trailed 13-9. Thankfully, the Bulldogs would settle in and shoot above 50% from the field for each subsequent quarter.
Butler looked more aggressive on offense entering the second half, putting up 20 points in the paint and drawing 17 fouls.
Mortag scored a game-high 16 points, scoring nine in the second half. She also went 8-8 at the free throw line, along with seven rebounds, two steals and an assist.
Off the bench, Strande also went a perfect 8-8 from the charity stripe. Including her performance in Butler’s exhibition versus Benedictine, Strande has yet to miss a free throw — sitting at a perfect 14-14.
Defensive adjustments at half
The Bulldogs came out of the locker room looking like a more energized team on defense. Butler held the Cougars to only 2-11 from the 3-point line and below 33% from the field in the second half.
Parkinson was pleased with how his team has shown up in the second half of both the exhibition game against Benedictine and against the Cougars.
“I thought our team played well in the second half,” Parkinson said. “Second game in a row we defended better in the second half and taking better care of the ball in the second half.”
Butler will prepare to face off against IUPUI — Parkinson, McLimore and Mortag’s former team — on Sunday, Nov. 13 at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. and the game can be streamed on FloSports/Butler+.
