The Butler women hung tough with No. 8 Hutchinson for three quarters, but fell 59-44 to the Blue Dragons on Saturday night at the Power Plant.

Hutchinson scored the first six points of the game to build a cushion, but Butler would battle from that point. The Grizzlies got within two points after a pair of Tamara Lee free throws made it 9-7.

The Blue Dragons led 17-12 after one quarter. Tamara Lee hit a jump shot early in the second quarter to get Butler within three points at 17-14, but Hutchinson immediately answered with a 6-0 to push the lead to nine points at 23-14.

Butler cut the gap to 26-21 after a free throw by Raven Prince with 1:09 left in the second quarter before Hutchinson took a 28-21 lead into halftime.

Hutchinson led by 12 points in the third quarter before the Grizzlies went on a 7-0 run with a 3-pointer by Hayley Leeper and layups by Nia Roberts and Janee Arnold made it a 37-32 game with 2:21 left in the period.

Butler was within six with eight minutes to go and had the ball with a chance to get within four points, but a turnover led to a layup for Hutchinson to make the score 47-39 and Hutchinson pulled away down the stretch.

Butler was led by Janee Arnold's nine points. Alecia Gulledge had seven points, while Imari Bell and Nia Roberts had five points apiece. Bell led Butler with eight rebounds. Taylor Stahly led Hutchinson with 21 points, all coming on seven 3-pointers.

Butler is now 13-5 overall and 3-4 in Jayhawk Conference play. Hutchinson is 16-1 overall and 6-1 in conference. Butler is off Wednesday and will play again at home next Saturday at 2 p.m. against Independence.