INDIANAPOLIS – Ashli O'Neal scored 16 points - most of which came in the second half – but Butler took a 17-point lead into halftime and never relented in a 72-49 decision at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse Monday night in Indianapolis.
 
While Indiana State (5-4) held Butler well under its 15 steals per game – the Bulldogs registered just 10 steals in the game – the visiting Sycamores could not seem to stop a hot-shooting attack as Butler (8-1) shot 45.3 percent from the field after a 50 percent clip in the first half.
 
"That has been an issue," Indiana State Head Coach Vicki Hall said of her team allowing opponents to score with high shooting percentages. "We are saying that we want to pride ourselves on defense but defense is heart, effort and determination. When you play good teams, you cannot just guard their first option. You have to be able to guard their second and third option. That is what makes a good team good. We are at the level of average and if we keep working where we can guard the second and third options of teams, then we will get to the good level."
 
O'Neal, whose 16 points led all scorers alongside the 16 from Butler's Whitney Jennings, was the only Sycamore to reach double figures, a mark she has done in every game this season. But Butler's defense prevented any other player in Blue and White from hitting the 10-point mark.
 
Tamara Lee was seemingly on pace to do so. Her nine points came off a trio of 3-pointers Monday night with all three in the first half. But the hosts dialed up the defensive pressure on Lee, and the rest of the Indiana State quad, early in the second quarter to pull away before halftime.
 
"You have to give Butler credit - they gave us some pressure, they are a little bit bigger than us and I think that bothers us. And it showed. These are just different situations where we have to be more patient and execute our offense."
 
That came starting at the 6:56 mark in the second frame as Indiana State had cut the Butler lead to four at 19-15 before the host Bulldogs went on a 10-0 run with Kristen Spolyar being responsible for a majority of those points in her 13-point effort. Naira Caceres, who averages 3.1 points per game, put up a season-high 14 points as the third Bulldog to reach double figures.
 
Tierra Webb grabbed a season-high six rebounds to lead ISU on the boards while Tori Schickel led Butler with nine boards.
 
Indiana State will now play at Eastern Illinois on Friday, Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT.
 
For the latest information on the Sycamore Women's Basketball team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.