Box Score INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - After an early cold stretch, the University of Evansville women's basketball team battled, but ultimately fell to Butler, 75-67, inside Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind.

"That was a frustrating loss. I know we are capable of playing better," said Aces head women's basketball coach Robyn Scherr-Wells. "We got good looks on offense and we didn't knock down shots. We let the game be at their pace in the first half. It took a lot of energy to fight back from a double digit deficit at halftime."

For the third time this season, junior Je'Naiya Davis was the leading scorer for the Aces, pouring-in 24 points, along with seven rebounds. Six other Aces finished the game with six or more points in the contest. Butler was led by Celena Taborn, who recorded a game-high 26 points on 11-13 shooting from the field.

Both offenses struggled to find any traction early as Butler held a 2-0 lead with over three minutes gone by in the opening quarter. The Bulldogs began to find their rhythm just shy of the midway point of the first period, building its game-opening lead to 10-0. Evansville began its push to trim the deficit with just under four minutes remaining in the first on a pair of free throws by Elly Morgan. Over the final four minutes, Evansville would utilize a 10-5 run capped-off by a last second lay-up by Je'Naiya Davis to close the period.

A jumper by Celine Dupont to open the second quarter pushed the Aces back within three, but Butler immediately responded with a run. The Bulldogs' lead would grow as large as 15, topping-out in the final minute of the contest. Just before the break, Evansville gained a bit of momentum with a three from Jossie Hudson with three seconds left that narrowed the Butler lead to 34-22 at the half.

Maybe one of the best 10-minute stretches of the season so far unfolded for Evansville in the third quarter as the Aces raced back into the contest. After Butler's lead hit 14 again with six minutes left in the period, Evansville went on a 10-0 run to trim its deficit to just four. The run was keyed by a more aggressive approach for the Aces, getting to the line three separate times during the stretch. With just over a minute remaining in the quarter, Evansville got within three on a pair of free throws by Myia Clark as the game moved into the fourth quarter.

Right from the start in the fourth, Evansville continued its momentum as Davis got to the basket for a lay-in and was fouled, hitting the ensuing free throw to tie the game. Butler retook the lead with a three 30 seconds later on a jumper by Trinity White. The Aces stayed within a possession through much of the fourth, but could never draw closer in the Bulldogs' 75-67 win.

"I'm proud of the fight we showed in the second half and that we were able to give ourselves a chance to win despite missing some players," said Scherr-Wells. "We had Butler on the ropes and credit to them, they made a couple of big buckets down the stretch to stop our momentum.  We'll grow from this game and be ready for conference play after Christmas!"

Evansville begins conference play after the holiday, opening in Iowa with contests against UNI and Drake on December 30 and January 1, respectively.
 

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