Big runs lift Butler women over Garden City in home win

The Butler women used two big surges – one in each half – to post a 68-58 victory over Garden City on Saturday at the Power Plant.

Butler would go on a 14-1 run in the first half, then used a 21-1 run in the second half to overcome the Broncbusters.

Garden City took an early 6-2 lead and was up 8-4 with 4:27 left in the first quarter before Butler started its first run. Jaleesa Gross scored for Butler to make it an 8-8 game with 3:07 to go in the quarter. The Grizzlies led 14-9 going to the second quarter.

Kyla Callins and Awreona Ransom scored layups for Butler early in the second quarter and the Grizzlies led 18-9 with 9:00 left in the half. The Grizzlies would go into the half leading 30-18.

In the third quarter, Garden City made the game close again, getting within three at 35-32 with 4:50 left in the quarter. Butler would allow just one free throw for the remainder of the period and led 47-33 going to the fourth quarter.

Butler scored the first nine points of the fourth quarter, leading 56-33 with 7:21 to play after a Callins layup. That would mark Butler's biggest lead in the game. Garden scored the final eight points of the game, but it still was not enough to cut the final margin to single digits.

Butler's strength in scoring on Saturday came off the bench. Criste'On Waters led Butler with 15 points and Camille Downs had 11.

Butler is now 15-2 on the season and is 6-2 in Jayhawk Conference play. Butler will play again quickly, with a home game at 11 a.m. on Monday morning against Cloud County at the Power Plant. It is Elementary Day, with hundreds of students from local schools expected to attend.