Butler Handed 1st Home Loss of Season by No. 1 Hutchinson

EL DORADO, Kan. – Butler women's basketball suffered its first home loss of the season, falling 57-53 to top ranked Hutchinson at the Power Plant on Wednesday evening.

Butler (11-3, 6-3 KJCCC) and Hutchinson (15-0, 9-0) both turned in impressive defensive efforts and the game came down to the final minute.

Butler freshman guard Keegan Yarick played 36 minutes and led all scorers with 20 points. Fellow freshman Kenzie Galliart added 15 points for the Grizzlies.

The Grizzlies faced an early 11-4 deficit and Hutch later pushed its lead to 16-8 with 3:43 in the first quarter. Sophomore guard Mya Mayberry hit a three and Galliart converted a layup, helping cut the deficit to three at 17-14 at the end of the first.

Offense was not abundant in the second quarter There were just 11 total points scored with Butler only scoring three off a Yarick free throw and Galliart jumper. The Grizzlies were 1-16 from the field in the second quarter, turning the ball over six times. The defense did hold Hutch to just 2-12 shooting. Hutchinson headed to halftime with a 25-17 advantage.

Butler started fast in the third quarter putting together an 8-0 run with Yarick scoring the first six points of the run connecting on a triple and converting an and one following a layup off a steal. The 8-0 run tied the game at 25-all. The teams traded baskets across the quarter with Yarick scoring 10 of her 20 points to pace Butler. Hutchinson guard Honey Cooney banked in a triple with two seconds left in the quarter to push Hutch ahead 41-39. Butler took its first lead of the game in the third stanza as Yarick made two free throws to make it 32-30.

The fourth quarter saw two lead changes and two ties. A three from Hutchinson's Landon Forbes gave the Blue Dragons a 46-43 lead with 7:48 to play. The teams traded baskets back and forth with the Blue Dragons holding a one-point advantage over three minutes. The Grizzlies seized the lead off a Galliart layup with 3:47 left, 49-48. The next points in the game did not come until two minutes later when a Hailey Jackson free throw tied the game 49-49. Hutch scored the next four points to go ahead 53-49 before a Yarick layup with 14 seconds to play made it 53-51 Dragons. Hutch converted all four free throws over the final seconds to complete the win despite Butler pulling back within two at 55-53 with nine seconds to play off a Galliart layup.

The win marked Hutchinson's 52nd consecutive win, 37th straight in conference play.

Hutch was led by Hailey Jackson's 17 points while Madi Denison added 11 rebounds.

Yarick notched her fourth 20-point game of the season and ninth double figure scoring game. She has scored in double figures in four consecutive games. Freshman guard Ashley Singhateh led the Grizzlies with eight rebounds and three steals.

Butler shot just 30% for the game (18-60) and 19% form three (4-21). They held Hutch to 36.2% shooting (17-47). Each team turned the ball over 15 times and the rebounding margin was nearly split with Hutchinson pulling down 33 and Butler 31. The Blue Dragons got 16 points off their bench compared to Butler's seven.

Butler travels to Garden City on Saturday with tipoff from Conestoga Arena set for 2 p.m.