MICKENS' HUGE DEBUT POWERS NO. 12 HUTCH WOMEN

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

Hutchinson Community College women's basketball freshman Jada Mickens definitely made an eye-popping first impression on Wednesday in the Blue Dragons 2017-18 season opener at the Sports Arena.

Mickens produced the best single-game debut of any Blue Dragon women's player in history as No. 12 Hutchinson overcame a slow start the roll past the Bethany College Junior Varsity 81-35.

Mickens posted a double-double in her Blue Dragon debut with 34 points and 10 rebounds. The 34 points scored was the most by any Blue Dragon in their first Hutchinson game. Mickens tied Cian Carvalho (1998 vs. Allen County) and Missy Schomaker (2000 vs. Colby) for the 10th-best individual scoring performance in program history.

Mickens hit on 13 of 19 field-goal attempts, going 8 of 10 from the free-throw line. Mickens added four steals.

Mickens and sophomore Alicia Brown carried the Blue Dragons early, combining to score 13 of Hutch's first 17 points and 28 of the first 38 Dragon points.

Brown finished with 12 points and five rebounds. She had one 3-pointer. Freshman Dejanae Roebuck came off the bench to score 10 points. Brianna Bradshaw finished with nine points.

The Blue Dragons shot 40.9 percent from the field (27 of 66), shooting 59.6 percent in the middle two quarters. Hutch was 1 of 10 from 3-point range and 26 of 36 from the free-throw line.

Hutchinson outrebounded Bethany 46-34. The Dragons forced 36 Swede turnovers, 13 coming by steals. The Dragons limited Bethany to 23.4 percent (11 of 47), hitting 4 of 13 from 3-point range and 9 of 12 from the free-throw line.

Chandler Peoples had 11 points and Halei Wortham had 10 for the Swedes.

The Blue Dragons led just 17-12 after one quarter after shooting only 4 of 20 percent. Hutch led 18-16 with 8:58 to play in the second quarter. Hutch broke the game open with a 15-0 run and led 33-16 after a Mickens' layup with 1:51 to play in the second quarter.

After outscoring Bethany 24-11 in the third quarter, the Blue Dragons held the Swedes scoreless for the first 8 minutes, 47 seconds. Hutchinson's largest lead was the final 46-point margin.

The Blue Dragons are off until Tuesday when the Lamar Runnin' Lopes come to the Sports Arena at 6 p.m.

GAME NOTES – Jada Mickens' 34-point game was the first time that a Blue Dragon women's player scored at least 30 points since Jaime Patrick scored 38 against Northwest Tech on Nov. 30, 2014. … The Blue Dragons are 31-0 all-time against the Bethany College JV. … The Blue Dragons are now 36-8 in season openers and 39-5 in home openers. … The Dragons outscored Bethany 50-14 in the paint and 36-9 in points off turnovers.