HUTCHINSON, Kan. — No. 18 Hutchinson saw its three-game winning streak snapped Monday night as No. 8 Butler used a decisive third quarter to claim a 56-52 win at the Sports Arena.
The Blue Dragons stayed within striking distance for much of the first half and trailed just 26-21 at the break, but Butler seized control after halftime by outscoring Hutchinson 22-13 in the third quarter. The Grizzlies built a double-digit lead during that stretch and were able to withstand a late Hutchinson push in the final period.
Butler (19-1, 13-1) was led by Mya Mayberry, who scored a game-high 36 points on 12-of-17 shooting. Mayberry connected on eight 3-pointers and accounted for more than half of Butler’s scoring. The Grizzlies finished 9 of 21 from beyond the arc and shot 42.9 percent from long range, providing a key edge in a tightly contested game.
Hutchinson (15-5, 10-4) struggled to find consistent offense, shooting 35.1 percent from the field and 32.0 percent from 3-point range. Noelle Anthon led the Blue Dragons with 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting, while Whitney Brown added 11 points and five assists. Delora Pricop provided a spark off the bench with 11 points, knocking down three 3-pointers in limited minutes.
Jaden Wilson pulled down a team-high nine rebounds for Hutchinson, which outrebounded Butler 39-29 but was hurt by 16 turnovers. Butler turned those miscues into key scoring opportunities, helping offset the Blue Dragons’ advantage on the glass.
The Blue Dragons made a late run in the fourth quarter, trimming the deficit to four points in the final minutes, but Butler held on at the free-throw line and with timely defensive stops to secure the road win.
Hutchinson will look to respond Wednesday when it returns home to host Independence at the Sports Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.