Butler Beats Lady Raiders

January 10, 2009
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Photos © and Courtesy of Tim G. Zechar

Even though Butler is in first place in the Horizon League and Wright State is fourth, the stats on these two teams showed this would be a close game. It was that indeed. The game started with the teams trading baskets and Wright State would take the lead 6-4 with 16:32 left in the half. Butler would tie the game at the 13 minute mark and then take the lead with 11:47 left, 10-8. In the first half, there would be five tied scores and six lead changes. Butler went to the locker room with a one point lead 21-20, on a layup with just 32 seconds left.

Wright State was shooting 33.3% (7-21) to Butler's 42.1% (8-19). It seemed like turnover city with WSU giving the ball up 13 times and Butler turning it over 15 in the half. Butler was able to grab 15 points to WSU's 13 points from those mistakes. Most of the Lady Raiders turnovers the Coach would point out came from the point players trying to make things happen on the court.

Sophomore Ta-myra Davis was leading the team with seven points and 2 boards, while Sophomore Shey Peddy had four rebounds and four points. Butler was controlling the boards, but not by much 14-12. WSU shot 6-7 (85.7%) from the line, far exceeding their average of 48.9%.

The second half started right were the teams left off in the first half. The lead would change hands four more times in the second half. Wright State had a four point lead with 15:18 left. The largest lead Butler could manage was six points at the 3:53 mark. In the end, fouls by Wright State prevented them from catching Butler. Butler had 15 points from 18 free throws. They unfortunately came at key points towards the end of the game. Some were unnecessary mistakes by players. So when it was all said and done, Butler stayed undefeated with a 46-41 victory.

Wright State shot 33.3% (15-45) for the game the same as in the first half. Butler hit 39.5% (15-38). Rebounds went to butler 30-28. WSU had 21 turnovers giving Butler 21 points while picking up 19 points from 22 Butler turnovers. The Lady raiders are averaging 23 turnovers each outing a stat the Coach says they're working on but it is a hazard of their style of play.

The Lady Raiders did not get a single point from fast breaks in this game which as the Coach pointed out, is highly unusual for their style of play. Another stat showing how tough this game was is the fact Butler had eight "team" rebounds and WSU also had three. The game saw a lot of action on the boards today.

Both Davis and Sophomore LaShawna Thomas hit 10 points on the day, while defensively Peddy finished with six boards, eight points and three steals. She is ranked #15 nationally averaging 3.2 steals per game so she at her average.

Wright State now hits the road for two games. The always tough Wisconsin battles with Milwaukee and Green Bay will be a test for the women's team. The Lady Raiders return to the Nutter Center for an early game on Thursday Jan 22 against Youngstown State. The game will start early at 5:30 and the men will play Loyola at 8pm in a double header. Come and watch both games!