Dec. 28, 2004

Box Score

Miami, FL - Sophomore forward Katie Butler scored a career-high 21 points as the University of Dayton women's basketball team gutted out a 63-51 win over Brown University at the Florida International Sun & Fun Classic Tuesday afternoon at Phamed Arena. The Dayton defense held Brown University to just two field goals in the final nine minutes to come from behind for the win.

Junior center Angela Cape added 10 points and eight rebounds as the Flyers improved to 6-4. Senior guard Emily Williams chipped in nine points, on three three-pointers, and six rebounds. Brown was led by Sarah Hayes, who finished with 15 points and nine rebounds. The Bears fall to 6-3.

Brown opened up to a 9-2 lead on seven points from Sarah Hayes before UD responded with five-straight points. Emily Williams drained a three and a bucket in transition from Jennifer Strong pulled the Flyers within two. After the Bears stretched the lead back out to three, an and-one by Nikki Oakland tied the game at 13-13.

The Flyers took their first lead of the game at 15-13 on a bucket inside by Oakland, before Brown answered with back-to-back buckets. Brown held UD without a field goal for almost five minutes, taking a 29-20 lead with 3:32 to go before the half.

Back-to-back buckets by Brittany Holterman and an and-one from Cape pulled the Flyers within two at 29-27, but Brown closed the half with a deuce inside from Lena McAfee to take a 31-27 lead into halftime. Kelly led all scorers at the break with 13 points for Brown. Oakland had seven points at intermission to lead the Flyers.

In the second half, Cape opened with two baskets, and an and-one from Strong pulled UD within one at 35-34 with 16:33 to go. After a Cape free-throw tied it, Brown converted two-straight attempts to push the lead out to four. A three-pointer by Williams gave UD a 40-39 lead, but Brown answered with a bucket on the other end.

Butler knocked down a three to tie the game, 43-43 with 9:07 remaining. After a Brown basket, Butler was fouled on a reverse lay-up and the free-throw put UD up top 46-45.

Tied 48-48, Williams drained a three, and Butler connected from long-distance to give UD a 54-48 lead with 1:34 to go. Butler hit eight of nine free throws from there as Dayton pulled away for the 12-point win.

Of Butler's 21 points, 19 came in the second half, and 11 in the final 1:34 of the game.

The Flyers will meet the winner of Stony Brook and host Florida International on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. in the tourney's championship game. Dayton returns home to open Atlantic 10 play on January 3 against Xavier at UD Arena.