Butler women roll over Neosho in home regular season finale

The Butler women rolled over Neosho County 82-55 in the final home game of the regular season on Saturday, but only after overcoming a first-half deficit.

With the win, Butler (19-9 overall, 16-9 conference) remains tied for fifth place with Cloud County and Garden City. The Grizzlies have already clinched a first-round home playoff game, which will be played Thursday with the opponent and time yet to be determined.

Butler's defense forced Neosho into 33 turnovers and scored 35 points off of the Panthers' mistakes.

Butler took an early 4-0 lead on a pair of buckets by Kyla Callins, but it was Neosho that would lead 16-13 at the end of the first quarter. Callins scored nine of Butler's 13 points in the quarter.

Butler would take the lead early in the second quarter, as Reagan Sanchez scored to put Butler ahead 20-19 with 9:02 left in the first half. The Grizzlies, who led 36-31 at half, forced 11 turnovers in the second quarter alone.

Butler dominated the third quarter, out-scoring Neosho 31-13 to lead 67-44 going to the final quarter. Both Callins and Jalise Smallwood scored 10 points each in the quarter, with Smallwood going a perfect 10-of-10 from the foul line.

Smallwood led Butler with 15 points, while Reagan Sanchez scored 14. Ericka Mattingly scored eight points and had 10 rebounds. 

Butler will finish out the regular season on the road at Colby on Monday. The Grizzlies defeated Colby 78-54 in the first meeting back on Jan. 13 in El Dorado.