Butler women continue to win big, beat Allen 72-43

The Butler women continued to be one of the hottest teams in the Jayhawk Conference, as they rolled over Allen County by a 72-43 score on Wednesday night at the Power Plant.

Butler has now won three straight and is 9-1 in its past 10 games.

As they have done in most of the games during that stretch, the Grizzlies relied on a staunch defensive effort. The 43 points surrendered is the second fewest Butler has allowed this season in conference play, behind a 74-42 win at Pratt earlier this month.

Allen actually scored first to take a 2-0 lead, but Butler answered with a 7-0 run after baskets from Kyla Callins and Jaiden Easter and a 3-pointer from Ericka Mattingly.

Butler would lead 13-5 at the end of the first quarter, and then scored the first four points of the second quarter, all from Raegan Sanchez, to lead by double digits for the first time.

Butler would get a layup from Awreona Ransom to push the lead past 20 points, at 36-15 with 1:02 left in the half, and was up 38-19 at the intermission.

Butler's lead grew to 30 points when Ericka Mattingly hit a 3-pointer with 2:06 left in the third quarter that made it a 55-25 game.

The Grizzlies would lead by as many as 32 before settling on the 29-point margin of victory.

Ericka Mattingly, the reigning Jayhawk Conference Player of the Week, led Butler with 14 points. She had a double-double with 10 steals, and also led the team with seven rebounds and four assists. Kyla Callins added 12 points in just 19 minutes of action.

The Grizzlies are now 15-6 overall and 12-6 in the conference standings, sitting solidly in fifth place.

Butler will get a chance to gain ground on Independence, which is two games ahead at 14-4. The Grizzlies will play on the road Saturday at Independence before returning home to face Dodge City next Wednesday.