A quick deficit was too much to overcome for Allen Community College’s women’s basketball, 86-53 against Butler Monday night.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game, but I still expected us to play a little bit better,” coach Katie Mahoney said. “I’m proud of our effort and how hard we played. If we can clean up our effort on a few things here and there I think it’d have been a lot closer game.”
Trailing 9-5, Allen’s Ashley Washington hit a 3-pointer to get the Red Devils to within one point with 15 minutes left in the first half. But, Butler kept the tempo up and kept scoring.
The Grizzlies’ Sarah Parker dropped a three to put Butler up 18-8 for a double digit lead that only got larger. On the next play, Parker caught an outlet pass for an easy lay-in to give the Grizzlies a 20-8 lead with 10 minutes and 20 seconds left in the half.
Butler went on a six-minute, 15-0 run that extended their lead to 24-8. The Red Devils’ Kailey Cleaver ended the scoring drought with a step-up jumper. But, Allen’s defense couldn’t stop Butler’s offense and the Grizzlies answered right back with two points.
“We knew how they score is to get turnovers and then go and score,” Mahoney said. “Once that kind of started, they got the momentum and we never really got a push to get it back.”
Allen’s Haley Wilson hit a 3-pointer at the 8-minute mark to keep the Red Devils alive, trailing 28-13. The closest the Red Devils could manage to get was 30-18 with 6:30 left from another 3-pointer, this time from Ashley Sally.
Butler extended its lead to 47-23 going into the half.
Nine minutes into the second half, and the Grizzlies had a 71-32 lead. Allen went on a scoring drought that lasted five minutes. Emily Azubell finally scored for the Red Devils by draining two free throws after inducing a blocking foul against her, putting the score at 75-34 Butler.
With the game well at hand, ACC’s Josie Reilly used her fingers. Reilly drove through the lane and rolled the ball off her fingers into the hoop. After a defensive stop, Allen’s Wilson hit another 3-pointer at the 5:30 mark to reduce Butler’s lead to 77-41. At that point it was too late.
Butler won 86-53.
Allen (0-2) plays Wednesday on the road against Crowder.
Butler routs Allen women, 86-53
