Hutchinson CC Sports Information
EL DORADO – The Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team had season lows for points and shooting percentage and suffered its first loss of the season on Wednesday night.
Scoring 50 points or less for the first time since March 2018, the No. 11 Blue Dragons lost 56-50 to Jayhawk East leader and No. 25-ranked Butler at the Power Plant.
The Blue Dragons fall to 3-1 overall and 2-1 in the Jayhawk West. Butler is now 4-0 and 3-0 in the Jayhawk East. This was the fifth-straight meeting in the series where the teams have alternated wins.
Hutchinson had season-low marks for points scored, field goal percentage (29.4 percent), 3-point goals (5), 3-point percentage (15.2 percent), free throws (5) and three-throw percentage (33.3 percent). The Blue Dragons were ice cold in both the second and fourth quarters, scoring a combined 13 points on 5 of 29 shooting.
The Blue Dragons trailed 27-19 at halftime, but outscored the Grizzlies 25-12 in the third quarter. A Kalyn Ervin 3-pointer with 4:19 to play in the third gave the Blue Dragons their first lead since the first quarter at 33-31. The Dragons built a 44-38 lead after Lojong Gore putback with 1:20 to play in the period.
Butler's conference-leading defense clamped down on the Blue Dragons after that, outscoring Hutchinson 18-6 over the final 11 minutes. Hutchinson missed 16 of their final 19 shot attempts of the game. Hutch scored four points over the final 5 1/2 minutes. Tied at 48, Cymirah Williams' free throw with 2:30 to play gave Butler the lead for good. The Grizzlies sealed the win when Carissa Beck hit her first 3-pointer of the season with 1:25 to play for a 54-50 lead.
Gore led the Blue Dragons against Butler, posting her first career double-double with 14 points and a career-high 11 rebounds. Tor'e Alford finished with 11 points. Ervin and Nafatoumata Haidara had eight points each.
The Blue Dragons were 20 of 68 overall, going 5 of 33 from 3-point range and 5 of 15 from the foul like. The Blue Dragons were out-rebounded 40-33 and Hutch committed a season-high 23 turnovers.
Skyla Knight scored a game-high 20 points and had seven rebounds to lead the Grizzlies.
Butler was also held to season lows with 32.7 percent shooting (16 of 49), 4 of 12 from 3-point range and 20 of 33 from the free-throw line. The Grizzlies had 24 turnovers, but only seven after halftime.
Hutchinson will play host to Cloud County at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Sports Arena.
GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons are now 57-32 all-time against Butler, 28-16 in games played in El Dorado. … Ontjes is now 42-25 against nationally ranked opponents. … Sophomore Kate Ogle had a season-high nine rebounds.