Nard returns to lead Butler in 67-57 home win over Dodge City

The Butler women opened its home conference schedule with a 67-57 victory over Dodge City on Wednesday at the Power Plant.

Grizzly sophomore Tamara Nard led all scorers with 18 points as Butler (9-4 overall, 2-1 conference) extended its home winning streak to 25 straight games.

Returning to the court after missing Saturday's contest at Colby with concussion symptoms, Nard came off the bench with an 8-of-13 shooting performance from the field. Nard nearly pulled off her first double-double as a Grizzly, as she grabbed nine rebounds - including six offensive boards - and blocked two shots in just 19 minutes of action.

"It was great to see her back on the floor," Butler head coach Mike Helmer said of Nard. "She's an unbelievable talent. We obviously could have started her, but she didn't practice on Monday. We put her through practice on Tuesday and I told her we were going to bring her off the bench, which she was fine with. My goal was to keep her under 24 minutes… that's a heck of a game for that many minutes."

Carissa Beck added 11 points behind 3-of-5 shooting beyond the arc, while Raven Nero and Camille Downs each scored nine in the Grizzly win.

Butler took a 20-11 lead after the opening quarter, as the Grizzlies shot a 60-percent clip (9-of-15) to start the game. Dodge's only lead of the game came courtesy of a Fredrionna Adams 3-pointer on the Conqs' opening possession.

The Grizzlies followed with an 11-0 run, as Jelesa Gross and Beck hit field goals on consecutive possessions. Beck added a 3-pointer from the right wing, then Nard scored two straight baskets for an 11-3 Butler lead.

"We were doing a great job of sharing of the ball," said Helmer. "We've been struggling with being selfish and not making that extra pass. We've really been focusing on getting people open and I thought we did that well for all four quarters."

Butler extended its lead to as many as 16 late in the second quarter. A 12-4 Grizzly run during the final six minutes of play put Butler up 38-22, just before Dodge's Faith Cattouse ended the first half with a long two-point jumper at the buzzer.

The second half opened with a 9-0 Butler run, beginning with a pair of foul shots from Downs. Beck followed with a 3-pointer at the 7:54 mark, then field goals by Nero and Nard had the Grizzlies up 47-24 with 5:43 remaining in the quarter.

Butler's largest lead of the contest came at the end of a quick 6-0 run late in the third, as Nard scored two straight baskets and Nero added two charity shots at the 2:05 mark for a 53-29 advantage.

Dodge (6-4, 1-2) closed the gap to 10 points on two occasions late in the fourth quarter, but the Conquistadors never worked the margin below single digits.

Butler dominated the glass by a plus-20 margin, outrebounding Dodge City 46-26. Nard and Nero each pulled down nine boards, while Downs and Jaelynn McLaurian added six each. Butler had 17 offensive rebounds which led to 11 points off second chances.

"Dodge is leading the league in rebounding," Helmer said. "That was one of the areas we really concentrated during our two practices. To win that by 20 (rebounds), I'm very proud of them."

Butler now turns its attention to a key home game against No. 8 Hutchinson, as Saturday's matchup will be the Grizzlies' third ranked opponent in their last five games. Hutchinson (10-1, 3-0) is coming off a 111-53 home blowout win over Neosho County on Wednesday. Last year, Butler knocked off the Blue Dragons in a 61-60 semifinal battle enroute to the Grizzlies' first Region VI title in program history.

"Our sophomores were talking about it in the locker room after the game," Helmer said. "It's the one game that you really don't have to worry about getting people up for it. Both teams will be ready to go."

Saturday's tipoff from the Power Plant is at 5:30 p.m. and can be seen live online at http://butlergrizzlies.com/watchlive

NOTES: Butler has won seven straight games over the Conquistadors and improved to 19-1 against Dodge City under Helmer.