Women's Basketball Battles No. 2 Butler in Regular Season Finale

EL DORADO, Kan. - The Colby women's basketball team closed out the regular season Wednesday (March 4) night with a 79-57 loss to No. 2-ranked Butler on the road.

Despite facing one of the top teams in the nation, the Trojans battled throughout the first half and went into the locker room tied with the Grizzlies before Butler pulled away in the second half behind a dominant performance on the glass and a strong third quarter.

Butler jumped out to an early lead in the opening quarter, outscoring Colby 18-10 over the first 10 minutes. The Trojans regrouped in the second quarter and delivered their best stretch of the game, shooting more efficiently and finding offense from multiple players. Colby outscored Butler 21-13 in the second period to erase the deficit and tie the game 31-31 at halftime.

The momentum shifted coming out of the break. Butler used a strong third quarter to take control of the contest, outscoring the Trojans 25-11 while limiting Colby's offensive rhythm. The Grizzlies continued to extend their advantage in the fourth quarter, adding another 23 points while pushing their lead to as many as 29 points late in the game to secure the 79-57 victory.

Colby finished the night shooting 22-of-63 (34.9 percent) from the field and knocked down nine three-pointers, going 9-of-36 (25 percent) from beyond the arc. The Trojans also went 4-of-6 at the free throw line. Butler shot 48.3 percent from the field (28-of-58) and converted 16-of-22 free throws. The Grizzlies controlled the rebounding battle, finishing with a 48-24 advantage on the glass, including 18 offensive rebounds that led to 21 second-chance points. Butler also held a 26-22 edge in points in the paint.

Adrian Neal led the Trojans in scoring with nine points, knocking down three three-pointers while also recording two steals. Amisha Russell and Easha Potts each added eight points, with Russell connecting on two three-pointers and Potts shooting 4-of-7 from the field. Jera Kruleski also finished with eight points and added three assists. Elia Ando provided a spark off the bench with six points and two assists, while Olivia Hultgren added five points, including a three-pointer and a pair of free throws. Colby's bench played a significant role in the game, accounting for 30 of the team's 57 points. The Trojans also forced 14 Butler turnovers and turned them into 11 points.

For Butler, Ashley Singhateh led all scorers with 17 points while adding five rebounds and six assists. Keegan Yarick recorded a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, and Destiny Smith added 13 points with three three-pointers. Kenzie Galliart finished with 11 points and six rebounds as four Grizzlies reached double figures.

The loss moves Colby to 15-15 (12-12 KJCCC) to close out the regular season. The Trojans will now shift their focus to postseason play as they prepare to host Pratt in the opening round of the Region 6 Tournament on Saturday (March 7) in Colby. Tip is set for 1 p.m.