Broncos Bested by Butler

Sunday, December 1

Fort Myers, Fla.

3 p.m. MT

Boise State

7-2,0-0Mountain West

Butler

7-2,0-0Big East

Butler

Boise St.

Tatum Thompson at the Gulf Coast Showcase

12/1/2024 5:51:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

ESTERO, Fla. – Boise State women's basketball dropped its final game of the Gulf Coast Showcase to Butler, losing 70-64 Sunday. The loss gives the Broncos (7-2) a fourth-place finish at the three-day event.

The battle was won on the 3-point line, with the Bulldogs (7-2) draining 10 total 3-pointers in the victory. Meanwhile, Boise State finished 2-of-13 (15.4%) from beyond the arc.

Libby Hutton led the Broncos with 13 points off the bench in 18 minutes of action. Tatum Thompson poured in 12 points, while Abby Muse added 10 points and six boards.

Muse came out on fire for the Blue and Orange, netting eight points within the first five minutes of the contest. The domination down low continued when the fifth year subbed out, as Boise State scored 18 points in the paint in the opening quarter. The last two were a spin move from Natalie Pasco at the buzzer to give Boise State a 21-15 lead.

The Broncos opened the second period with four consecutive points to grab a double-digit lead. Butler chipped away, eventually using a 7-0 run to cut the lead to one. Dani Bayes answered with a 3-pointer, followed by four consecutive points from Libby Hutton as the Broncos held on to a 36-33 halftime advantage.

The Bulldogs came out swinging, using a 7-0 run to take a 42-40 lead midway through the third frame. Butler continued its strong third quarter, outscoring the Broncos by seven in the third to take a 52-48 lead into the final period.

Butler stretched its advantage to seven midway through the frame, but Boise State wouldn't go away. Natalie Pasco drilled a 3-pointer, followed by a jump shot from Thompson that brought the Broncos to a 64-62 margin with two minutes to play. The Broncos were unable to convert offensively for the remainder of the period, and Butler finished 6-of-8 from the free throw line to clinch the victory.

Top Broncos
- Freshman Libby Hutton scored a team-high 13 points in 18 minutes of action off the bench.
- Tatum Thompson scored 12 points and pulled down three boards.
- Abby Muse recorded 10 points, six rebounds and three assists.

Notables
- Boise State finishes the Gulf Coast Showcase in fourth place.
- All three matchups the Broncos have played in at the tournament were first-time opponents (Illinois State, West Virginia, Butler).
- Mary Kay Naro became the second player in program history to reach 500 career assists in the contest. The fifth year joins Yaiza Rodriguez (2013-17), who dished out a program-record 616 dimes.
- Tatum Thompson has scored in double figures in six of her last seven contests.
- The Broncos matched their season-high with 44 points in the paint.
- Boise State reserves added 31 points in the contest, marking the sixth game this season the Bronco bench has scored over 30 points.
- Abby Muse eclipsed 400 career field goals, finishing with 404. The fifth year is 20th all-time in program history.
- Dani Bayes pulled down a season-high five rebounds.

Quotables
"We had every opportunity to win and didn't get it done. I like the way we responded from yesterday. I was really proud of Libby and I thought our post play was terrific. We have to get better. We'll learn from this and grow from this." - head coach Gordy Presnell

What's Next
Boise State will return to the Treasure Valley for a pair of home games next weekend. The Broncos will host Utah Tech on Friday, Dec. 6 at 1 p.m. MT, before taking on San Diego on Dec. 8 at 2 p.m. MT. Both games will take place in ExtraMile Arena and will be broadcast on the MW Network and 670 KBOI AM.