The women’s basketball team continues its winning streak with a 68-61 win over North Dakota State. This gives the team its best start since the 2018-19 season, where it started 6-0.
Both teams got off to a sluggish start. North Dakota State scored five of its seven first quarter points from the free throw line, went 1-of-14 from the field and missed all six of its three-point attempts. Butler did not fare much better, but was able to find some success from close — the Bulldogs made 4-of-14 from the field — as the quarter ended 9-7.
The Dawgs started finding their groove in the second, as senior guard Judit Valero nailed a shot from beyond the arc. Not to be outdone, junior guard Marisa Frost scored four points of her own to pull the game even, but seven consecutive points from junior guard Tamar Singer ensured the Bulldogs took the lead again.
Following a failed challenge on an out-of-bounds ball by the Bisons, the two teams exchanged missed shots, but Frost became the game’s leading scorer with eight points. Senior forward Taya Ellis made a layup and Valero scored a free throw to both tie Frost in points, and the Bulldogs took a 29-20 lead into the locker room.
The Dawgs improved to 11-of-26 from the field and 3-of-12 from three, while the Bisons only made 7-of-30 of their field goal tries and 1-of-11 of their three-point attempts. North Dakota State, however, controlled the glass with 23 rebounds — nine of which were offensive.
After halftime, the Bisons found their footing, making 70% of their field goals. Four players — sophomore guard Sophie Hawkinson, junior forward Karrington Asp, senior forward Miriley Simon and sophomore forward McKenna Johnson — scored 16 of the team’s 18 points, but it was not enough to hold Butler back. Senior guard Nevaeh Jackson scored nine points — making every basket she attempted during the quarter — and Ellis poured in another six to become the game’s leading scorer.
Valero continued leading the Dawgs’ offense, scoring 10 points during the fourth quarter as the Bulldogs held on to a shrinking lead. Hawkinson tallied six more points and Asp scored four to join Frost in double digits, but the Bulldogs held on to take a seven-point victory.
Valero finished as the game’s leading scorer with 18 points, Ellis had 14 and Nevaeh rounded out the Dawgs’ double-digit scorers with 11. Frost led the Bisons with 14 points, and Hawkinson and Asp were close behind with 13 and 12 points, respectively. Asp also notched a double-double with 13 rebounds, leading all players on the glass.
Despite being out-rebounded 36-31, Butler’s depth gave the team the scoring advantage it needed, as the Bulldogs’ substitutes notched 24 points compared to the Bisons’ eight. Head coach Maria Marchesano commends the players who came in and gave the team a much-needed scoring boost, especially after a slow start.
“We know we can rely on [Ellis] off the bench, and all of our bench players are scoring threats,” Marchesano said. “You look at our top three subs with [Ellis, sophomore guard Karina Bystry and graduate guard Jacy Weisbrod], they’re all offensive threats, and they did their job. They came in, gave us a spark. [Ellis], especially [gave us a spark] when [senior forward Lili Krasovec] got in early foul trouble. She’s been huge for us all season, and I think we’re going to continue to be able to rely on our bench, especially on the offensive end.”
Butler now turns its focus to UT Martin, who it will travel to face on Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. The game will be a homecoming for assistant coach Chelsey Perry, who spent her college career with the Skyhawks and still holds many of their records.