BLUE DRAGONS DROP TOP-20 BATTLE WITH GRIZZLIES

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

The No.18-ranked Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team saw its four-game winning streak snapped on Monday night in a Top 20 battle at the Hutchinson Sports Arena.

With a chance to win the game on the final possession of the game, the No. 18-ranked Blue Dragons committed a turnover and No. 8 Butler held on for a 56-52 victory.

The Blue Dragons slipped to 15-5 overall and 10-4 in the Jayhawk Conference. Hutchinson will play host to Independence at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the Sports Arena. Butler is now 19-1 and 13-1 in the KJCCC.

Hutchinson led 18-12 after the first quarter and 29-26 at halftime. The game turned around in the third quarter as Butler's Mya Mayberry scored 16 of her game-high 35 points in the quarter and Butler led 48-42 after three quarters.

The fourth quarter was a defensive grind for both teams – Hutchinson was 3 of 13 shooting and Butler was 2 of 11. The Dragons cut the Butler lead to one twice at 48-47 and 51-50, but couldn't get the go-ahead hoop as Butler completed its first regular-season series sweep of the Blue Dragons since 2007.

Noelle Anthon, Whitney Brown and Delora Precop scored 11 points each to lead the Blue Dragons.

Precop tied a career high with 3 of 3 3-point shooting with five rebounds.

KaMyra Barber had eight points.

The Blue Dragons shot 35.1 percent for the game (20 of 57), hitting 8 of 25 from 3-point range and 4 of 8 from the foul line. The Blue Dragons out-rebounded Butler 39-29, but committed 18 turnovers.

The Grizzlies shot 35.8 percent (19 of 53), going 9 of 21 from 3-point range and 9 of 13 from the foul line.

Mayberry was 12 of 17 shooting overall, hitting 8 of 11 3-pointers.

Precop hit two first-quarter 3-pointers to give Hutchinson leads of 15-9 and 18-10. Then trailing 26-24, Precop hit her third 3-pointer of the game with 1:02 to play in the second quarter for a 27-26 lead. Precop then grabbed an offensive rebound and scored with 1 second left in the half to give the Blue Dragons a 29-26 lead.

Barber drilled a 3-pointer with 8:48 to play in the third quarter for a 34-29 Blue Dragon lead. But the Grizzlies went on a 10-0 run over the next 2 1/2 minutes to led 39-34. Brown scored with 57 seconds to play in the third quarter to pull the Dragons within 44-42. Mayberry finished off her huge third quarter with a field goal and two free throws to give Butler a 48-42 lead.

The Blue Dragons scored the first five points of the fourth quarter with a Brown 3-pointer and an Anthon bucket in the paint to cut the Butler lead to 48-47 with 7:47 to play in the fourth. The Dragons went without a field goal for 6 full minutes, but pulled within 54-52 after a Jaden Wilson putback with 1:36 remaining. Getting a defensive stop with 30 seconds left, but Dragons committed a turnover with 13 seconds to play and Butler hit two free throw to seal the win.

GAME NOTES – This was the 100th all-time meeting between Hutchinson and Butler. … The Blue Dragons own a 64-36 series lead. … The Dragons are now 14-1 when leading at halftime this season. … The last player to score 30 points against the Blue Dragons was Pratt's Princess Anderson, who had 30 points on Feb. 7, 2023. … The Blue Dragons are 0-3 vs. nationally ranked opponents.