INDIANAPOLIS (Interstat) — The Butler women’s basketball team used a dominant first half and a commanding performance in the paint to secure a 73-56 victory over Northern Kentucky on Sunday afternoon at a sparse Hinkle Fieldhouse.

Playing before an announced crowd of 1,111, the Bulldogs improved to 2-2 on the young season, while the Norse remained winless at 0-4.

Butler established control early, outscoring Northern Kentucky 18-8 in the opening quarter and extending the lead to 40-18 by halftime. The Bulldogs’ offense was efficient, shooting 29 for 55 from the floor for the game, compared to the Norse’s 19 for 57. The most significant disparity came inside, where Butler outscored Northern Kentucky 46-20 in the paint.

Mallory Miller, a 6-foot-4 sophomore from Aberdeen, South Dakota, was a force for the Bulldogs, just missing a double-double with 10 points and eight rebounds while adding four assists and a block in 24 minutes. Lily Zeinstra, a 5-11 guard from Byron Center, Michigan, led all scorers with 14 points, contributing four rebounds and four assists in a team-high 31 minutes.

The Bulldogs’ backcourt pressure was also a key factor, as they recorded 12 steals, leading to 15 points off turnovers. Addison Baxter, a 5-9 guard from Larwill, Indiana, filled the stat sheet with seven points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Northern Kentucky, which struggled offensively for much of the contest, found more rhythm after halftime, scoring 19 points in each of the third and fourth quarters. Karina Bystry, a 5-9 guard from Englewood, Tennessee, led the Norse with 15 points and four rebounds. Jamaya Thomas, an Indianapolis native, added nine points and four rebounds.

Despite forcing 20 Butler turnovers, the Norse could not overcome their own offensive woes, committing 18 turnovers and shooting just 21.1 percent from beyond the three-point arc. Butler was only slightly better from deep, hitting 5 of 17 attempts, but its interior scoring and a 10-for-11 performance from the free-throw line provided more than enough cushion.

The win gives Butler momentum heading into a challenging road game against in-state rival Indiana on Wednesday. Northern Kentucky will look for its first win of the season when it returns home to host Toledo on the same night.