The Bulldogs improved to 2-0 on the young season after recording a 79-70 overtime win at Milwaukee on Saturday afternoon. 40 minutes wasn’t enough to separate the two teams at the Klotsche Center, but BU would win the final five minutes 13-4 to find the win column. Lily Carmody came off the bench to supply the Bulldogs with a team-high 20 points and Caroline Strande would add 17 to lift BU to victory.
Milwaukee got off to a fast start on Saturday, grabbing a quick 7-0 lead. That advantage would grow to 12-2 before a Bulldog timeout. Riley Makalusky scored the first points of the contest for BU, but the Panthers had four of their five starters in the box score early on 5-of-6 shooting. The quarter began to balance out over the final seven minutes of action and BU would climb back within a point at 21-20.
BU picked up where they left off and opened the second frame with a bucket to give them their first lead of the afternoon. They moved forward to outscore Milwaukee 18-14 in the second quarter to earn a 38-35 halftime lead.
Lily Carmody led all players at the break with 11 points. She was one of four Bulldogs to hit a 3-pointer allowing BU to shoot 4-for-6 from distance in the first half. Milwaukee matched that effort with four 3-pointers of their own.
Kacee Baumhower impacted the action in the third quarter to pull Milwaukee even with Butler at 45-45. Her deep 3-pointer from the left wing broke the tie and was part of a 7-0 scoring run that gave the home team a five-point edge in the final three minutes of the third.
BU went over five minutes without a field goal, but was able to add a few points to the scoreboard on free throws before a pull-up jumper from Caroline Strande snapped the streak. Baumhower stayed hot for Milwaukee and banked in a three to give her a game-high 20 points heading into the fourth.
Butler’s defense was dialed in at the start of the fourth quarter. Milwaukee didn’t score a point over the first five minutes, allowing BU to get back within one at 58-57.
After the final media timeout, Butler got a blocked shot from Cristen Carter that put the Bulldog offense in transition. Kilyn McGuff caught a pass and pulled up for three in front of the BU bench. She drilled the shot and put BU back in front 60-58.
Butler’s lead moved to 64-58 before Milwaukee’s first points of the fourth. The Panthers were in the bonus with just over two minutes to play, ending the 13-0 scoring spree.
The game stayed tight the rest of the way and Milwaukee pushed back to get within two at 65-63 with 35.6 seconds to play. BU got a steal after a Panther timeout and Carmody stepped to the line to hit one of two, giving BU a three-point cushion.
An exciting finish started with Kamy Peppler hitting a game-tying 3-pointer with 16 seconds left that pushed the game into overtime. The extra five minutes would belong to BU. Carmody opened up the scoring with a driving layup and Strande would slip to the rim to keep the ‘Dawgs in front. McGuff and Strande would combine for 11 of Butler’s 13 points in the extra frame to seal the road win.
Inside the Box Score
– Lily Carmody scored 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting
– Carmody filled up the stat sheet with a team-high four assists and four steals
– Caroline Strande went 6-for-8 from the free throw line to help score 17 points
– Kilyn McGuff was the third Bulldog in double figures with 10 points
– McGuff just missed a double-double with eight rebounds
– Cristen Carter provided Butler with seven points, nine rebounds, and three blocks
– Butler shot 50 percent from the field and 38 percent from 3-point range (5-13)
– The Bulldog bench outscored the Panther bench 38-8
– Today’s overtime win was Butler’s first since Jan. 31, 2020 (vs. Xavier)
– Kacee Baumhower led all players with a game-high 24 points
Up Next
Butler will host Indiana on Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m.
