The seventh ranked Butler Grizzlies fell for the first time this season, losing to the hot shooting Hutchinson Blue Dragons, 68-50, on the road at Hutchinson Sports Arena on Saturday.

The loss drops the Grizzlies to 10-1 on the year, and 5-1 in conference play. They fall to a Blue Dragons team that will stay unbeaten at home this year, in the first time that the Grizzlies have visited Hutchinson since December 8th, 2018. 

It just was not the Grizzlies' night. Following a dominant win against Coffeyville that saw Buter shoot 45%, it seemed like nothing would go in tonight. The Grizzlies finished just 31% from the field and just 4 of 14 from three point range. The defense kept the Grizzlies in the game early, as Butler ended the first half with nine steals and trailed by just one point at the end of the first quarter. But the Dragons heated up, shooting 50% from three point range in the second quarter and stretching the lead out to seven points, a lead that they would keep the rest of the game, powered by a third quarter that saw the Grizzlies shoot just 2-17. The Dragons ended the game at 43% from the field and 14-31 from behind the arc, for a total of 45%. 

Mekayla Furman and Kamiyah Lyons both ended the game with 10 points. They would be the only Butler scorers to hit double digits, as points were hard to come by all game. The Grizzlies did outrebound the Dragons, 35-30, and also forced 13 steals, led by Lyons' three. But it didn't translate into points, as Butler found just four second chance points and 12 points off turnovers. 

The Grizzlies will hope to rebound from their first loss on Wednesday, December 8th staying on the road with a visit to Dodge City.