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Bulldogs Host Detroit in Second Game of Doubleheader Saturday
Jan. 16, 2004 WHAT'S ON TAP: Butler (5-10, 1-3 Horizon) returns to Horizon League action with today's game after defeating IUPUI, 63-48, Tuesday night. The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Bulldogs. Detroit (6-7, 3-0 Horizon) lost at No. 23 Michigan State Monday after winning their first three league contests.
BULLDOG UPDATE: The Bulldogs broke their second three-game losing streak of the season Tuesday at cross-town foe IUPUI, 63-48. Senior Angel Mason led the Bulldogs with 12 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, five steals and two blocks. Center Cortney Urquhart added team highs of 18 points and 13 rebounds, while freshman Jackie Closser came off the bench to score a career-high 15.
BREAKING DOWN DETROIT: The Titans (6-7, 3-0 Horizon) are led by guard Lindsey Pasquinzo's 11.6 ppg. Senior Nicole Anaejionu (9.5 ppg and 6.3 rpg) is a double-double threat for the Titans and was the league's "Player of the Week" for Dec. 29. Detroit is undefeated in league play at 3-0, but enters today's game off a 64-41 loss at No. 23 Michigan State Monday. Coach Mickey Barrett, the top assistant to Perry Watson for the Detroit men's team the last 12 seasons, is in his first year at the helm of the women's squad. AGAINST THE TITANS: Butler and Detroit meet for the 41st time as women's basketball opponents today. The Titans hold a 28-12 advantage in the previous 40 tilts. Butler broke the Titans' nine-game series winning streak the last time the two teams squared off, winning a 57-49 decision Feb. 15, 2003, at Hinkle Fieldhouse. The Bulldogs own a 10-9 advantage in games played at Hinkle Fieldhouse. The two teams first met Feb. 2, 1985, when Detroit won, 89-55. QUICK SHOTS: IUPUI's .408 (20-of-49) shooting performance Tuesday was the lowest output by a Butler opponent this season...Angel Mason's six assists and five steals against IUPUI were both career highs for the senior, while her 12 rebounds matched her career best...Junior Cortney Urquhart's 13 boards at IUPUI set a new individual game-high for the Bulldogs this season...Freshman Jackie Closser's career-high 15 points Tuesday included 4-of-6 shooting from three-point range. MINUTES HARD TO FIND: For just the second time this season, only seven players registered double-digit minutes Tuesday at IUPUI. Coach Beth Couture played 12 players Dec. 30 against Wright State, but over the next few games that number decreased, as the Bulldogs tied a season-low by playing nine players at UW-Green Bay Jan. 10. Dionne Goodwin, making her return from an ankle injury, and Jackie Closser were the only reserves to see more than three minutes Tuesday. WELCOMING THE TITANS: Junior Cortney Urquhart enjoyed her time playing against Detroit last season. The 6-2 center averaged 17.5 points and 9.5 rebounds in the Bulldogs' two games against the Titans last season. Senior Nancy Bowden averaged 13.5 ppg and seven assists in the two contests. ON THE HORIZON: Tuesday's game with IUPUI was the last non-conference tilt on the Bulldogs' schedule. Today's game with Detroit begins a 12-game stretch of Horizon League opponents that leads up to the league tournament. The Bulldogs went 4-7 against non-league opponents this season, including 2-1 against in-state foes. SO THIS IS WHAT HINKLE LOOKS LIKE: Today's game is just the fifth home game for the Bulldogs this season. Butler is scheduled for a Horizon League-low 10 home games. GIVE AND TAKE: Not only does senior Nancy Bowden lead the Horizon League in assists, steals and individual assist/turnover ratio, but her 6.2 assists per game are good for 18th nationally, while her 3.3 steals per contest are tied for 25th in the NCAA. WE'RE GOING STEAKING: Senior Angel Mason has averaged 14.0 ppg over the team's last two games after reaching double figures only once (11 points at Bradley, Dec. 3) in the team's first 13 games...Butler has held its last three opponents to combined 13-of-57 (23 percent) three-point shooting...With a win against Detroit, the Bulldogs would win back-to-back games for the first time since Jan. 13 and 20, 2001, a span of 86 games...The Bulldogs have held a halftime lead in five straight games, winning two of those contests...The Bulldogs have forced more turnovers than they've committed in five straight games. CLIMBING THE CHARTS: Senior Nancy Bowden moved into fourth on the Bulldogs' career assists list with her 10 helpers Dec. 6 at Valparaiso. She currently has 437 for her career. The Cincinnati, Ohio, product is also fourth on Butler's career steals list with 249 in her three-plus years at Butler. LEAGUE HONORS BOWDEN: Senior Nancy Bowden was named the Horizon League's "Player of the Week" for the week of Dec. 15. Bowden tied a career high with 22 points on 7-of-9 shooting in Butler's win over Evansville Dec. 9. She had 11 assists. PRYOR HAS KNEE SURGERY: Senior Lisa Pryor had successful surgery Thursday to repair the torn ACL in her left knee, suffered Dec. 9 against Evansville. She is out for the year. Pryor tore the ACL in her right knee 12 games into the 2001-02 season. Because she appeared in eight games this season, she is not eligible for a medical redshirt. |
