Last-second shot edges Butler women in 68-67 loss at Barton

GREAT BEND, Kan. — The Butler women had a fourth-quarter comeback thwarted on a last-second three-pointer in a 68-67 road loss at Barton on Saturday.

Barton's Mallory Miller hit a trey right in front of the home bench with one second left to stun Butler (4-2 overall, 1-2 conference), who came into the game with a nine-game winning streak over Barton.

Jalise Smallwood scored 16 of her game-high 20 points in the second half, while Ericka Mattingly had 13 for the Grizzlies.

A wild fourth quarter featured four ties and two lead changes as Butler battled back from a 12-point second-half deficit.

Down 63-58 with 4:20 to play, Butler rallied with a Taylor Birch layup and a three-pointer by Mattingly with 2:38 remaining. Barton went back in front on a Jaylin Stapleton basket with 47 seconds left, but Smallwood hit two free throws just under eight seconds later.

On a missed shot on the Cougars' next possession, Mattingly grabbed the rebound and went the length of the court to score a layup with 5.9 seconds remaining. After a Barton timeout, the Cougars were able to get the ball to Miller in the near corner for the eventual game-winning trey.

Butler inbounded the ball and failed to get a decent shot attempt as time expired.

Barton's biggest lead of the contest came midway through the third quarter, as the Cougars held a 46-34 advantage.

Down 55-47 heading into the final quarter, Butler used an 10-0 run to take its first lead of the second half. Mattingly keyed the run by getting fouled on a layup and hitting the charity shot to tie the game at the 7:25 mark, then scored another layup with 5:52 left to put the Grizzlies in front.

Butler established control in the opening quarter with an 11-0 run to take a 20-13 lead over the Cougars. Barton would make a three-pointer before the end of the quarter, then opened the second quarter with three straight treys to go up 22-20.

Barton then closed the first half with a 9-0 run to take a 37-30 halftime lead, then used a 7-2 run to begin the third quarter.

Butler shot 40 percent (28-of-61) from the field, while Barton connected on 37 percent (25-of-66). However, the Cougars were deadly from three-point range, hitting 12-of-33 shots behind the arc.

In addtion to Smallwood and Mattingly, Kyla Callins scored 12 points to give the Grizzlies three players in double figures.

Stapleton and Miller each finished with 18 points for Barton (5-2 overall, 2-1 conference). Taylor Regan also pulled down 10 rebounds and scored nine points for the Cougars.

Butler will attempt to break a two-game losing streak on Tuesday when the Grizzlies host Cowley at 5:30 p.m.