Callins goes for 29 to lead Butler women over Coffeyville

A career night by Kyla Callins, teamed with a stifling defensive effort, lifted the Butler women to a 54-50 win over Coffeyville on Saturday at the Power Plant.

Callins had 29 points in the win, but Butler (9-5 overall, 6-5 conference) still couldn't put away Coffeyville until the very end.

Butler led by as many as 12 points, but saw the lead shrink to just two points in the fourth quarter. The Grizzlies were able to hold on despite shooting just 48 percent from the free throw line (10-of-21).

Coffeyville (8-7, 6-5) took an early 9-6 lead before Butler made a 13-2 run to end the first quarter for a 19-11 advantage. Butler scored the first four points of the second quarter, all by HaLee Roland, and had its biggest lead at 23-11 with 8:18 left in the first half.

Coffeyville then responded by outscoring Butler 11-2, getting within three points after a Lucy Burke 3-pointer made it 25-22 with 3:29 left in the half.

Butler scored the final three points of the half on a free throw by Ericka Mattingly and a bucket by Awreona Ransom and led 28-22 at the break.

Butler pushed the lead back to double digits in the third quarter, going up 40-29 after a Kyla Callins free throw with 2:34 left in the third quarter. Coffeyville answered with an 8-0 run to cut Butler's lead to three. Roland gave Butler a five-point cushion heading into the fourth quarter with two free throws.

With Butler leading 44-42, Callins scored seven straight - including back-to-back 3-pointers - to give the Grizzlies a 51-42 lead with 2:24 remaining.

Coffeyville would get as close as three before Mattingly would make 1-of-2 free throws with nine seconds remaining to seal the win.

Callins was the only Grizzly in double figures with her 29 points. Ramsom and Roland scored six each while Jalise Smallwood scored five. Ericka Mattingly was held well below her season average with just two points, but led the team in four categories with 11 rebounds, six steals, three rebounds and two blocked shots.

Winners of three straight, Butler will be on the road Wednesday at Neosho County (6-9, 3-8). Tipoff from Chanute is at 5:30 p.m.