EL DORADO, Kan. – No. 3 ranked Butler women's basketball dropped its first game of the season on Wednesday evening at the Power Plant, falling 73-54 to No. 11 Hutchinson.
The Blue Dragons (13-0, 7-0 KJCCC) ultimately came away with the win in the battle of the unbeatens. The Grizzlies (12-1, 6-1 KJCCC) did not appear to be their usual selves in the rivalry game that served as the first contest of the spring semester with classes not having started yet. Hutchinson's defense was pesky all night as they held Butler to a season-low 54 points as well as a season-low 36.4% shooting from the field.
The first quarter gave the impression it would be a tight game throughout as Butler trailed just 11-10 at the end of it. They built an early 9-4 lead but Hutchinson finished the quarter on a 7-1 run to take the lead. The second quarter ultimately determined the game as Hutchinson outscored Butler 28-7 to head into halftime leading 39-17.
Freddie Wallace was the only Grizzly to score in the second quarter, putting up seven points. Wallace and Maycee James were the only two Butler players to score in the first half as Wallace had 13 and James with four. Hutchinson went on a 16-0 run in the second quarter over a five-minute span. Wallace hit a three at the buzzer to end the run but the damage was done.
"We got out-physicaled tonight," said head coach Mike Helmer. "We got out-worked, out-hustled, all of it."
Despite the brutal second quarter, Butler came out in the second half playing its best basketball of the night, outscoring Hutchinson 19-12 in the third quarter. The closest the Grizzlies got was 12 points as Randi Harding hit a three pointer with 9:43 to play in the game.
All in all, Butler outscored Hutchinson 47-45 in the first, third and fourth quarters but were outscored 28-7 in the second quarter by the Blue Dragons. Hutchinson snapped a three-game losing streak to the Grizzlies.
A crucial part of the game was free throw shooting. Butler shot a paltry 8-22 (36.4%) from the charity stripe while Hutchinson converted 11 of their 20 attempts.
Wallace led Butler with 18 points and eight rebounds. Harding had 12 points and three assists, James had 10 points, seven rebounds and five assists. The Blue Dragons had four score in double figures with Peyton Mosley leading the way with 16. Monae Duffy had a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
"Ever since we got back from break we have been lackadaisical, and we have been off," said Helmer. "Tonight was the consequence for that. I don't have a problem losing, but I have a problem losing soft and that is what we did tonight."
The Grizzlies return to action on Saturday as they travel to Colby to take on the Trojans at 2 p.m. CT.
