El Dorado, KS- The Cloud County Lady Thunderbirds dropped their second semester opener at Butler County 65-62 on Saturday afternoon. The loss drops the T-Birds to 11-5 overall and 3-2 in league play. 

Cloud fell behind early and trailed 17-12 after a quarter. Gabrielle Figgers got hot in the second quarter and helped stage an 8-2 run to close out the half. Cloud led 4-2 early and would not lead again until Figgers sunk a free throw to end the half and give Cloud a 31-30 halftime advantage. Figgers scored the T-Birds final eight points of the half. 

Kaley Broeckelman scored ten unanswered points out of the halftime break and Cloud took their biggest lead of the day at 43-33. Broeckelman scored 10 of her team high 17 points in the two minute fury to open the half. Butler would answer with ten straight of their own and the Grizzlies and T-Birds went to the fourth tied at 49.

Cloud and Butler would battle back and forth and the game was tied at 58 with 4:55 to play. Tamara Lee scored eight of her team high 16 in the fourth quarter for Butler to help the Grizzlies pull ahead and win 65-62.

The Thunderbirds had three players score in double figures. Broeckelman had 17. Chelcie Kizart added 14 and Figgers had 13.

Freshman Dahlia Bell saw her first collegiate action for the T-Birds. Bell is coming off of a knee injury sustained in the Arkansas High School state tournament.

Head Coach Brett Erkenbrack is currently sitting at 599 career wins. He is the all-time winningest coach in Region VI and the 5th all time winningest active Head Coach. Erkenbrack will get an opportunity to win #600 at home on Wednesday, January 6th as the T-Birds host Coffeyville. Tipoff is set for 6:00pm.