DEFENSE POWERS DRAGONS TO FIRST JAYHAWK VICTORY

Jada Mickens posted a double-double to lead the No. 12 Blue Dragons to a 64-31 victory over Pratt on Saturday in Pratt. (Joel Powers/Blue Dragon Sports Information)

November 18, 2017

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

PRATT – Trailing by six points late in the first quarter, the No. 12-ranked Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team turned to its defense to turned things around on Saturday night at Pratt.

The Blue Dragon defense held Pratt to just two points over the final 11 minutes, 48 seconds of the first half to turn things around. Hutchinson went on to dominate in a 64-31 victory over the Beavers for its first Jayhawk victory of the season.

Hutchinson improves to 3-2 overall and 1-2 in the Jayhawk Conference. Pratt is now 1-5 and 0-3. This was the Blue Dragons' final game in a three-game road trip. The Dragons return home on Tuesday to play Coffeyville.

Pratt led 14-6 with 1:48 to play in the opening quarter. Hutch's defense then sparked a 23-2 run – the final 21 points were unanswered by the Blue Dragons – to lead 29-14 at halftime. The Dragons held Pratt scoreless for the final 9:30 of the first half and for a total stretch of 10:06 to complete a 25-2 run.

The Blue Dragons held Pratt to only two field goals and just six points in the second and third quarters combined. The Dragons outscored Pratt 38-6 in the middle two quarters to turn a six-point deficit into a 46-18 lead after three quarters.

Pratt had five field goals in the first quarter and was limited to five over the final three quarters. Hutchinson held the Beavers to 10 of 46 overall shooting (21.7 percent), going 2 of 18 from 3-point range and 9 of 13 from the foul line. The 31 points allowed were a season low by a Blue Dragon opponent and were the sixth fewest points allowed to Pratt in series history. The Beavers committed 19 turnovers.

Two Blue Dragons posted double-doubles to lead offense on Saturday.

Freshman Jada Mickens had 19 points and 14 rebounds for her second double-double of the season. She was 10 of 13 from the free-throw line. Dejanae Roebuck had 10 points and 12 rebounds with four assists for her second double-double of the season.

Sophomore Alicia Brown had 11 points and four rebounds. Freshman Tia Bradshaw had nine points, three assists and three steals.

The Blue Dragons were 22 of 56 shooting (39.3 percent), going 4 of 18 from 3-point range and 16 of 25 from the free-throw line. The Dragons doubled up Pratt in rebounds, 48-24 with 19 offensive rebounds. The Dragons committed 17 turnovers.

Jada Catlin had 12 points to lead Pratt.