Butler’s second-half swoon costly in 57-47 setback
BUTLER TWP — It was the kind of game in which Butler could not afford to go well over five minutes without scoring. The Golden Tornado endured such a lull Thursday against Mercyhurst Prep and it sent the team into the holiday break with a third straight loss.
Seana Thrower and Olivia Kulyk both scored 17 points and the Lakers shot 54 percent from the field (22 of 41) in a 57-47 win in Butler’s gym.
The struggles on offense began for Butler just after Amelia McMichael’s two free throws cut Prep’s lead to just a single point at 42-41 with 2:22 remaining in the third period.
The Tornado’s next points came on a basket from McMichael with 4:59 left in the game, cutting the Lakers’ edge to 55-43.
Butler went a span of six minutes and 16 seconds between the third and fourth quarters without making a shot from the floor.
“We were out of sorts, weren’t getting in our sets offensively, not getting good looks and turning the ball over,” said Butler coach Mark Maier.
Meanwhile, the Lakers (5-1) were pulling away thanks in large part to sophomore guard Mari Nixon. She scored just two points in the first half, but led Prep over the final two quarters with nine points. Her 3-pointer late in the third began a 13-0 run from which Butler never recovered.
“We’ve been preaching being unselfish to the girls, not caring who scores the points and the whole team has really bought in,” said Prep coach Dan Perfetto.
Butler scored just six points in the final quarter. McMichael’s basket with 1:38 left in the game pulled the Tornado to within 55-47, but the team drew no closer.
McMichael paced Butler with 20 points.
Considering Prep’s hot shooting in the first half (13 of 22), Butler did an admirable job to trail just 33-29 at the break. The Lakers drained seven treys in the first two quarters.
“It felt like we were down by 20,” said Maier. “There was no JV game tonight, so we got here early, 5:45, let the girls start warming up. But it took us out of our routine and we were down 8-0 early.”
Helping to keep Butler within striking distance was senior Jessica Chwalik, who sank three treys of her own in the first half.
The Lakers have been shooting very well from the outside, making 13 treys in one recent game and 11 in another. They won the District 10 Class 3A title last year and advanced to the second round of the state playoffs. Kulyk and Mia Mangin (eight points Thursday) returned as starters from that team.
Butler (2-5) will host a holiday tournament next week. The Tornado will face Altoona on Thursday and Avonworth on Friday.
MERCYHURST PREP 57
Seana Thrower 7 0-0 17, Mia Mangin 3 0-0 8, Mari Nixon 4 2-2 11, Olivia Kulyk 6 2-2 17, Cassidy Netkowicz 1 0-0 2, Julia Ferrick 1 0-0 2, Ashland Kaercher 0 0-0 0, Makayla Savko 0 0-0 0. Totals: 22 4-4 57.
BUTLER 47
Malina McElroy 1 2-2 4, Jessica Chwalik 3 0-0 9, Cameryn Booher 2 0-0 4, Avery Maier 2 4-5 8, Amelia McMichael 8 2-2 20, Eva Stutz 1 0-0 2, Ashton Huff 0 0-0 0, Casey Clouse 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17 8-9 47.
Mercyhurst Prep 19 14 16 8 — 57
Butler 12 17 12 6 — 47
3-point goals: Mercyhurst Prep 9 (Thrower 3, Kulyk 3, Mangin 2, Nixon); Butler 5 (Chwalik 3, McMichael 2).
Dec. 28-29: Butler Christmas Tournament
