Women’s Basketball Welcomes No. 1 Hutchinson to Power Plant Wednesday

The Teams: Butler Grizzlies (11-2, 6-2) vs. No. 1 Hutchinson Blue Dragons (14-0, 8-0)

Where: El Dorado, KS

Venue: Power Plant

Time: 5:30 p.m. CT

Tickets: ButlerGrizzlies.com/Tickets or purchase at the door. GA tickets $6, chairback $10, children 12 and under free

Streaming: ButlerGrizzlies.com/WatchLive or the BCTV+ mobile app

Live Stats: https://butlergrizzlies.com/sports/wbkb/2024-25/boxscores/20250108_d0kn.xml

Fresh off a gritty win over Coffeyville to open the 2025 calendar year, the Butler Grizzlies women's basketball team stays home at the Power Plant to host the top ranked Hutchinson Blue Dragons on Wednesday evening.

LAST TIME OUT

Butler picked up a 52-48 win over the Coffeyville Red Ravens on Saturday afternoon in the Power Plant. Butler (11-2, 6-2 KJCCC) earned its fifth consecutive win and first of the 2025 calendar year as they defeated the Red Ravens (10-3, 5-3) in a defensive slugfest. The Grizzlies shot just 29.8% from the field and were outscored 24-12 in the paint but knocked down eight triples and connected on 10-14 free throws to help them to the win. The Grizzly defense held Coffeyville to 35.7% shooting and just 4-24 from outside. Each team turned the ball over 16 times.

SERIES

Hutchinson leads the all-time series 62-34. Butler is 17-30 in games played in El Dorado. Butler has lost three straight games to Hutchinson with the three losses all coming in the 2023-24 season as the Grizzlies lost both regular season matchups as well as the Region 6 Championship game. The two losses were both on the road in Hutchinson and were by a combined eight points. The Grizzlies won two straight prior to that, sweeping the season series 2-0 during the 2022-23 season. Under head coach Mike Helmer Butler is 8-23 vs. the Blue Dragons dating back to the 2008-09 season.

NATIONAL RANKINGS

Butler is receiving votes in the most recent NJCAA D1 Women's Basketball Poll that was released on December 16th. Hutchinson is the top ranked team as they have been throughout the entire season after winning the 2024 NJCAA D1 National Championship. Click here for the full rankings.

KJCCC STANDINGS

Hutchinson and Dodge City are tied atop the league standings with both teams undefeated at 8-0. The Grizzlies (6-2) sit alone in second place after defeating Coffeyville (5-3) on Saturday. Click here for the full standings.

COMMON CONFERENCE OPPONENTS

Barton: Butler won at home, 63-46. Hutchinson won on the road 59-43.

Fort Hays Tech: Butler won 86-49 at home. Hutchinson won 88-35 on the road.

Colby: Butler won 69-34 at home. Hutchinson won 75-37 at home.

Independence: Butler won 70-34 on the road. Hutchinson won 66-34 on the road.

Coffeyville: Butler won 52-48 at home. Hutchinson won 66-53 at home.

STOUT DEFENSE

• Butler allows just 48.2 points per game, the fewest in the league.
• The Grizzlies allow an opponent field goal percentage of 30.9%, the second best in the league behind only Dodge City.
• The Grizzlies 14.0 steals per game ranks third best in the conference.
• Butler has allowed 50 or more points in just four of 13 games this season.

REBOUNDING PROWESS

• Butler leads the KJCCC with a +14.1-rebound margin per game.
• The 47.2 rebounds per game Butler averages is atop the league, 3.7 more than Coffeyville's 43.5 who grabs the second most.
• Butler's defensive rebounding per game (28.5) is third best behind Barton and Dodge City but their offensive rebounds per game (18.8) is the most in the KJCCC and 3.1 more than the next team, Cloud County.
• Despite her position, freshman guard Keegan Yarick averages 6.6 rebounds per game to lead the team. Sophomore forward Lucia Lara is right behind pulling down 6.5 boards per game.
• The Grizzlies have five players averaging 4.0 or more rebounds per game with three of the five being guards in Yarick, Mya Mayberry (4.5) and Ashley Singhateh (4.5).

SPREADING THE WEALTH

• Six different Grizzlies have led the team in scoring in a game this season.
• Keegan Yarick has led Butler in scoring the most, doing so in five separate games this season.
• Seven different players average 5.0 points per game or more for Butler.

LOOKING AT THE BLUE DRAGONS

• The Blue Dragons have won a program-record 51 consecutive games and 36 straight Jayhawk conference games.
• The last loss for Hutchinson came on March 7th, 2023, when Coffeyville topped the Dragons 73-68 in the Region 6 Tournament Quarterfinals.
• This season Hutchinson (14-0, 8-0) has continued the impressive play and most recently snuck by the Cowley Tigers, winning 62-60 in Hutchinson on Saturday.
• It was their third win of the season in a one possession game.
• Sophomore forward Hailey Jackson, the league leader in points per game (17.8) hit two free throws with one second remaining to deliver them the win as she poured in 18 points to go with 13 rebounds.
• No other Blue Dragon averages 10 points per game or more besides Jackson. The next highest scorers are Dylan Alexander and Brynne Katcher who each average 8.2 points per game.
• The Dragons have won seven games this season by 30 or more points.
• The Blue Dragons lead the KJCCC in free throw makes and attempts (235-335) good for a 70.1% clip which is fourth best in the league.
• Their 42.7% field goal percentage ranks second best in the conference.
• Hutchinson's defense holds its opponents to just 22.7% shooting from distance, the best in the league.
• Their 48.4 points per game allowed is second lowest in the KJCCC behind only Butler (48.2 ppg allowed).