Butler’s strong finish defeats YSU women

Staff report

INDIANAPOLIS

Butler used a 19-5 run in the second half and got 14 second-half points from Devin Brierly in a 73-64 win over the Youngstown State women’s basketball team on Thursday at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

YSU grabbed its first lead of the second half at 49-48 with 10:08 remaining, but the Penguins did not make another field goal for almost four minutes.

By that time, Butler had gone on a 12-2 spurt to take a 60-51 lead. The Bulldogs had one 3-pointer in the first 30 minutes and five in their final stretch, four of which came from Brierly.

Brandi Brown had 23 points and 12 rebounds, both of which were game highs. Heidi Schlegel and Monica Touvelle both finished with 11 points.

Brierly had 19 points to lead four Bulldogs in double figures.

Butler led by as many as seven early in the second half and held a 48-43 advantage with 12 minutes left. YSU scored the next six points and took a 49-48 lead on Melissa Thompson’s bucket in transition. Butler called a time out, and Mandy McDivitt hit a trey to start the decisive run.

Kelsea Fickiesen’s 3-pointer made the score 60-54 Butler, but Brierly scored the next seven points to give the Bulldogs a 67-54 lead with 3:23 left.

A Touvelle 3-pointer cut the deficit to 69-62 with 1:41 remaining, but Brierly hit another triple after an offensive rebound to end any threat.

Butler shot a season-high 50 percent and was one point shy of its highest scoring total of the campaign. YSU shot 35.8 percent and was outscored 32-18 in the paint and 19-8 in second-chance points.

Youngstown State led by three twice in the opening four minutes, but Butler led by as many as eight in the first half before going into locker room ahead 35-31.

A Schlegel lay-up put the Penguins ahead 9-6 at the 16:17 mark, but they did not score again until a Touvelle 3-pointer with 12:53 left.

Butler went on nine-point run during that stretch, and Touvele’s triple made the score 15-12. The Penguins cut the deficit to one three different times before halftime but never reclaimed the lead.