She was active in USA Basketball, serving as the head coach of the gold medal-winning team representing the US at the World University Games in 1983.

Although the University of New Mexico (UNM) had a women's basketball team as early as 1898, formal intercollegiate play did not start until the 1974–75 season.

Hutchison attended New Mexico, graduating in 1967, and played basketball for intramural teams during her time at the school.

Her master's thesis involved study of female basketball players to determine whether their hearts could play the a full court game.

[5] The leading scorer on the team with just under 14 points per game was Joyce Walker,[5] who went on to play for the Harlem Globetrotters.