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The Butler women’s basketball team took a tough 56-54 loss at Villanova on Wednesday night. Lily Zeinstra made a 3-pointer to tie the game with 11 seconds left, but a missed layup followed by an offensive rebound and a Wildcat putback would give the home team a two-point victory. Butler ends the regular season with a 15-16 overall record and the ‘Cats improve to 17-12.
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Kilyn McGuff led all players with 21 points on 6-of-9 shooting. She made two 3-pointers Wednesday night and was also 7-for-10 from the charity stripe. Riley Makalusky had nine points and five boards while Cristen Carter helped impact the game with seven points and five rebounds.
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Each team experienced scoring woes in the first quarter and the Wildcats would head to the second frame up two at 11-9. Butler battled back and tied the contest at 16-16 on a post move score from Cristen Carter, but two late driving layups from Jasmine Bascoe would give the home team a 25-19 lead at the break.
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Carter and Kilyn McGuff each had six at the half for the Bulldogs while Riley Makalusky chipped in with five. On the other end, Bascoe, Maddie Webber, and Ryanne Allen accounted for 23 of Nova’s 25 points.
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Villanova scored the first points of the second half to give the Wildcats their largest lead of the game at eight points. Butler made adjustments in the locker room and those changes allowed the Bulldogs to make their first five shots of the third quarter. Sydney Jaynes, Makalusky and McGuff scored Butler’s first 16 points in the third and the two teams would come together at 35-35 with two to play.
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BU outscored Villanova 21-10 in the third and ended that quarter on a 5-0 scoring run after getting free throws from McGuff and Karsyn Norman. The five-point cushion wouldn’t last however as Villanova tied the game at 40-40 just one minute into the fourth.
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No one at The Finn was surprised to see the two teams separated by just one point at the final media timeout. Nova’s lead grew to three with three to play and would stay there until a huge top of the key 3-pointer went down for McGuff.
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The senior’s triple made the game 52-51, but Bascoe would score on an isolation jumper on Villanova’s next trip giving the ‘Cats a 54-51 edge with 14 seconds left in regulation.
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Coach Parkinson called a full timeout and drew up a play in the huddle for Lily Zeinstra. The true freshman flushed a 3-pointer from the top of the key to tie the game.
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After the made 3-pointer, Bascoe attack the rim on the right side of the floor, but missed the attempt. Butler was unable to come up with the rebound and Ryanne Allen would beat the buzzer with a layup to win the game for her team.
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Inside the Box Score
– Kilyn McGuff posted 21 points and seven rebounds in 37 minutes
– Riley Makalusky had nine points, five rebounds and two assists
– Cristen Carter made three shots to net seven points. She added a block and five boards
– Lily Zeinstra scored seven points and grabbed five rebounds
– Sydney Jaynes had six points and a team-best nine rebounds
– Lily Carmody was inactive at Villanova
– Nova outscored Butler 21-14 in the fourth quarter
– Villanova only had two turnovers on Wednesday night
– The Wildcats scored 25 points off 17 BU miscues
– BU won the rebound battle 43-29
– Bench points favored the home team 27-11
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Up Next
Butler won’t be in action this weekend giving the Bulldogs a few extra days to prepare for the upcoming conference tournament. First Round action starts on March 7. BIG EAST Tournament seeding will be announced on Sunday, March 2.
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