The Wright State women's basketball team fell behind by double-digits early in the first half to Butler on Thursday evening at Hinkle Fieldhouse, eventually falling 77-61. LaShawna Thomas and Ta-myra Davis each reached double figures in scoring for WSU, but the Bulldogs had five players reach double digits in the Horizon League contest.

The Bulldogs (11-6, 4-2 Horizon) scored the first two baskets of the game, before a layup from Erica Richardson made it a 4-2 contest early on. Butler would score the next 12 points and extend their lead to 14 points when Claire Freeman hit a three-pointer from the top of the key with 15:42 to play, giving BU a 16-2 edge.

The Raiders wouldn't go away, however, trimming that lead to six points when Ta-myra Davis converted layups on back-to-back trips and Molly Fox's basket with 8:01 to play in the opening frame drew WSU close at 27-21. Butler's Chloe Hamilton scored the next four points and the host Bulldogs lead was again in double digits, 31-21.

Wright State got the lead to eight twice over the final four minutes of the first half, but couldn't inch any closer with Butler heading to halftime leading 38-27. All eight WSU players scored in the first half, with Davis' six points leading the way. Hamilton and Melanie Thornton each had ten for Butler in the first 20 minutes.

WSU cut the advantage to nine points, 44-35, to open the second half, but a pair of three pointers from Alyssa Pittman pushed the home teams lead back to double-digits, at 50-35, with 14:23 left in the game. The Butler lead was pushed to 17 when Pittman hit a jumper – making her the fifth BU player in double figures – with 9:20 to play.

The Raiders would not be able to keep up with the hot shooting of Butler, with the lead staying in double digits for most of the second half. The Bulldogs shot 55 percent in the second half and made 4 of 9 shots from three-point range. WSU hit 50 percent of their shots and were 9 of 13 from the free throw line.

Thomas led all scorers with 20 points for WSU – 17 of those coming after the break – and Davis added 10 points to go along with six rebounds. Wright State shot a season-best 47 percent from the field, but the Bulldogs connected on 53 percent of their shots and outrebounded WSU 31-27 in the contest.

Hamilton posted a double-double for Butler with 16 points and 10 boards, while Freeman (12), Pittman (13), Brittany Bowen (13) and Thornton (10) all reached double figures for the Bulldogs.

Wright State (5-11, 1-5 Horizon) will travel to Valparaiso for a Saturday, January 23, meeting starting at 2:30 in the Athletic Recreation Center.