Butler women handle Cowley 70-57 in regular-season finale

The Butler women continue to be the hottest team in the Jayhawk Conference after handling Cowley 70-57 win in the regular season finale Monday night.

Butler dominated the first and third quarters and held Cowley at bay in the fourth quarter. The Grizzlies have now won six straight games to close out the regular season and have won 10 of their past 11 – the best record of any KJCCC team in that stretch.

Butler scored the first six points of the game against Cowley and stretched the lead to double digits when Tamara Lee hit a 3-pointer to make it 18-7 with 3:51 left in the first quarter. Butler would lead 24-11 at the end of the first quarter.

Cowley then flipped the script and dominated the second quarter, going on a 17-3 run and taking a 28-27 lead after a 3-pointer by Rijanna Lainge with 2:45 left before halftime.

The Grizzlies responded with four quick points from Tamara Lee to regain the lead and scored the final three points of the half, leading 34-29 at the break.

Cowley would get a bucket on the opening possession of the third quarter, but Tamara Lee and Nakylia Carter hit back-to-back 3-pointers to ignite Butler once again. When Nia Roberts cashed in a layup with 3:44 left in the quarter, Butler led 48-33.

Butler stretched the lead to as many as 20 points early in the fourth quarter, then held off Cowley to win by 13.

Tamara Lee scored a career-high 25 points for Butler in the win, while Nakylia Carter added 11 as the only Grizzlies in double figures. Kyeria Hannah had nine points and Janee Arnold scored eight.

Butler dominated the glass, outrebounding Cowley 44-29. Cowley shot just 19 percent from 3-point range, making six of 31 attempts.

Both teams will play first-round home games in the Region VI playoffs that start on Thursday. Butler's game will be at 5:30 p.m., with the opponent yet to be determined.