Butler Women’s Basketball Suffers Season-Ending Overtime Loss to New Mexico

LAKE CHARLES, La. – The No. 1 seed Butler Grizzlies were upset by No. 16 seed New Mexico in the Second Round of the NJCAA National Tournament from Townsley Law Arena on Thursday afternoon. 

The greatest season in Butler women's basketball history was brought to an abrupt end on Thursday, as the No. 1 seeded Butler Grizzlies fell to the No. 16 seeded New Mexico Junior College Thunderbirds in overtime 82-79. 

After trailing 20-14 after one, the Grizzlies came alive in the second quarter, outscoring New Mexico 29-15 and took a 43-35 lead heading into the break. 

The Grizzlies held a 59-46 advantage heading into the fourth quarter, and took their biggest lead of the day, 64-48 with 7:56 left in regulation after a bucket from Ashley Singhateh. After several possesions of trading baskets, Butler again got back up by 16 after a jumper from Keegan Yarick, leading 68-52 with 6:09 to go. During the final six minutes, the Grizzlies just could not get a basket to fall, and the New Mexico defense started to clamp up the Butler offense, forcing turnovers and scored at will. A missed three pointer and offensive rebound from the Thunderbirds led to a second chance bucket to cut the Butler lead to three (68-65) with 1:40 to go. 

On the ensuing Butler possession, Singhateh drove into the lane and scored to put the Grizzlies back up by five (70-65), and on the defensive end, the Grizzlies got a loose ball and called a timeout with 53.8 seconds left. The Grizzlies chewed us much time as possible on the possession but came up empty, as New Mexico regained possession, drove down the floor and got fouled and made two free throws to cut the deficit back down to three with 22.1 seconds. 

Butler called a timeout and with New Mexico having committed only one team foul in the quarter, the Grizzlies would inbound four separate times, forcing the Thunderbirds to foul to try and get the Grizzlies into the bonus. But on the fourth inbound, a costly turnover led to an easy New Mexico fast break layup to cut the Butler lead down to one with 13.5 seconds to go. 

Butler would then inbound and force New Mexico to foul, sending the Grizzlies to the foul line, where they went 1-2. With Butler up 71-69, New Mexico raced down the floor and tied the game at 71 apiece with 6.9 seconds left and ultimately sending the game to overtime. New Mexico ended regulation on a 19-3 run. 

With the game again tied at 79 apiece in overtime, New Mexico's Luisa Amaral nailed a right-wing three to take the lead 82-79 with 4.2 seconds left, forcing the Grizzlies to call a timeout. Having to go the full-court, the Grizzlies threw the ball near mid-court and the pass was deflected, ending up in the hands of Mya Mayberry, and she attempted a deep left-wing three for the tie but was off the mark as time expired, ending the Grizzlies season. 

Butler ends its season 32-2 overall, with both losses coming in overtime. 

The Grizzlies were held to 35.8 percent shooting and were eight of 28 from deep. Butler managed to get to the foul line often, going 23-32 on the day. New Mexico shot 39.5 percent from the field and were 7-32 from three. The Grizzlies outrebounded New Mexico 46-36 but had 18 turnovers to New Mexico's 14. 

Mya Mayberry led the Grizzlies with 19 points on 6-13 shooting, 6-12 from three. In 43 minutes, Singhateh recorded 18 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and two steals. Kenzie Galliart added 12 points and seven rebounds, Keegan Yarick finished with 10 points and nine rebounds, and Aliyah Green rounded out the starting five with eight points, 12 rebounds, four assists, and two steals. 

New Mexico's Jada Graves played all 45 minutes and led all scorers with 33 points and also contributed with 10 assists and four steals. 

The loss marks the final game for head coach Mike Helmer, who is stepping down to fulfill his role as the Butler Community College Athletic Director, a role he assumed back in early July. Helmer finishes his career with a career record of 414-157 (.725) and is the winningest coach in school history. Long-time assistant Abby Fawcett also coaches her final game, as she will be stepping down from the coaching staff. This also marks the final game for eight Grizzly sophomores: Destiny Smith, Ashley Singhateh, Mya Mayberry, Ilke Zorlukaya, Elina Syniakova, Keegan Yarick, Jalyiah Manuel, and Kenzie Galliart.