EL DORADO, Kan. — No. 22 Butler (9-1, 5-1) protected the Power Plant Saturday against No. 11 Hutchinson (9-3, 3-3).
Both teams were coming off losses and trying to avoid back-to-back defeats.
Butler lost its first game of the season Wednesday at Coffeyville, while Hutchinson dropped its second game at Cowley.
Unlike their road contest at Coffeyville, which included a slow start, the Grizzlies shot out of the gate defensively and held Hutchinson to nine points on 23.5% shooting in the first quarter.
The Grizzlies used just 14 first-quarter points and a strong defense to set the tone.
However, Mya Williams knocked down a triple in the second quarter to give Hutchinson one-point advantage before the Dragons really put things together and went into the locker room with a six-point advantage.
Freddie Wallace hit her stride for Butler in the third quarter and paved the way for her 25-point, 11-rebound double-double.
Her quick attack cut Hutchinson's lead to one in the third frame.
Headed into the fourth, it was still very much anyone's game.
A Kaylee Nero And-1 in the fourth quarter gave Butler the lead for good.
FINAL: Butler 55 Hutchinson 40
The Grizzlies outscored the Dragons 33-12 in the second half.
Mya Williams led Hutchinson with just eight points, just the fourth time in her illustrious career that she has been held to single-digit scoring.
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