Butler women race past Allen to advance to Region VI quarters

(photo by Allison Simon / Butler Sports Media)

The Butler women are moving on to the Region VI quarterfinals after a 79-38 win over Allen in the first round of the playoffs on Thursday at the Power Plant.

With the win, fifth-seeded Butler will take on fourth-seeded Cowley at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 5 at Hartman Arena in Park City. The two teams split two games this season, with each team winning on the other's home floor. Cowley won 69-57 in El Dorado on Nov. 21, but Butler won 95-82 in Arkansas City on Jan. 27.

Butler advances in the playoffs after completing a season sweep of Allen, winning all three games by 29 or more points. Thursday's playoff game was the widest margin of the three.

Butler got a layup from Raegan Sanchez and then two free throws from Jalise Smallwood and led 4-0 early on. Allen County would cut Butler's lead to just a point at 6-5 with 7:56 left in the first quarter, but the Grizzlies would not let Allen score again in the first quarter. Butler finished the period on a 16-0 run and led 22-5 going to the second quarter.

Butler pushed the lead to 20 for the first time when Kyla Callins dropped a three-pointer with 8:44 left in the first half that made it a 27-7 ballgame. The Grizzlies extended their lead to 27, leading 46-19 at at the half.

Butler's lead hit 30 points for the first time after a HaLee Roland three-pointer made it 56-24 with 5:41 left in the third quarter. The Grizzlies would lead 67-30 at end of the period.

The Grizzlies go up by more than 40 when Deztinee Gooden hit a jumper with 8:52 to go, making the score 71-30. Butler's biggest lead was 44 after a Jaiden Easter layup made the score 79-35 with just 1:27 remaining.

Kyla Callins led Butler with 20 points, while Ericka Mattingly had a double-double with 14 points and a team-high 10 rebounds. Butler outrebounded Allen 53-31 and forced the Red Devils into 28 turnovers.