ROEBUCK LEADS DRAGONS TO OT WIN OVER CLOUD

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

Freshman Dejanae Roebuck scored six of her career-high 23 points in overtime to lead the No. 17-ranked Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team to a 66-64 victory over Cloud County on Saturday night at the Sports Arena.

The victory split the season series with the Thunderbirds. The Blue Dragons improve to 16-3 overall and 12-3 in the Jayhawk Conference. Cloud County falls to 12-6 and 9-6.

Roebuck posted her ninth double-double of the season to lead the Blue Dragons. She was 11 of 17 shooting with one 3-pointer. Roebuck also had 13 rebounds. In overtime, Roebuck was 3 of 3 from the field with two rebounds.

Neither team had more than a six-point lead in a game with 18 lead changes and 11 ties. In the fourth quarter alone, there were seven lead changes and three tied.

Cloud County took a 56-54 lead after two free throws from Courtney Hammel with 1:52 to go in regulation. The Blue Dragons then had three opportunities to tie or take the lead and finally converted when Alicia Brown drove to the basket and scored to tie the game at 56 with 34.9 seconds remaining.

After trading baskets to start overtime – the first overtime game in series history – Kelsey Brett hit a 3-pointer and Roebuck scored after an offensive rebound to lead 63-58 with 3:35 left in regulation. With Hutch leading 66-64 in the final seconds of overtime, Cloud County got two chances to tie the game, but missed on both attempts as time ran out.

The Blue Dragons were 3 of 5 shooting in overtime. Cloud County is 2 of 6 in the extra session.

Sara Cramer, Tia Bradshaw and Jada Mickens all had seven points for the Blue Dragons. Brett added six points with a pair of 3-pointers.

Hutchinson shot 27 of 68 for the game (39.7 percent), hitting 6 of 31 from 3-point range and a season-low six free throws on eight attempts. The Blue Dragons out-rebounded Cloud County 39-36. The Dragons had 22 turnovers.

Camille Awa Baud had 23 points to lead Cloud County. Kelsi Mueller had 12 points. Awa Baud and Mueller had four 3-points each. The Blue Dragons held Cloud County's leading scorer Scout Frame to three points, 14 points under her scoring average.

The Thunderbirds shot 21 of 58 from the field (36.2 percent), hitting 8 of 20 from 3-point range and 14 of 17 from the foul line. The T-Birds had 23 turnovers.

The Blue Dragons trailed 9-5 early and scored six unanswered points to take an 11-9 lead after a Mickens basket with 2:19 to play in the first quarter. A Roebuck putback with 44 seconds left in the period gave Hutch a 15-13 lead, but Cloud took a one-point lead after one period with a 3-pointer from Awa Baud.

Cloud County had two five-point leads in the second quarter at 24-19 and 26-21 after a Courtney Keech bucket with 5:18 to play in the half. The Blue Dragons immediately tied the game on a Brianna Bradshaw 3-pointer and Tia Bradshaw 2-pointer to knot the score at 26 with 4:41 remaining. That was the front end of an 11-0 Blue Dragon run. Kayla Barber capped the run with 1:46 left to give Hutch a 32-26 lead. Cloud County scored the final six points of the half to know the score at 32.

Roebuck hit a 3-pointer and 2-pointer to start the third quarter, but Cloud County scored nine points in a row to take a 41-37 lead after an Awa Baud layup with 3:22 left. The game was tied at 42 after three quarters.

Cramer hit a 12-foot jumper to give Hutch a 52-51 lead with 3:46 to go in the fourth quarter. Awa Baud nailed a 3-pointer with 2:29 left to give Cloud a two-point lead. Roebuck scored inside with 2:12 left to tie the game at 54. Hammel's free throws with 1:52 left again gave Cloud a two-point lead and then Brown's bucket tied the game at 56. Each team had one more possession in regulation. Cloud turned the ball over and Brett had a good look at a 3-pointer at the buzzer that was just off the mark sending the game to overtime.

Hutchinson completes its four-game homestand on Wednesday against the Pratt Beavers.

GAME NOTES – Hutchinson is now 42-27 all-time against Cloud County, including 18-12 at the Sports Arena. … The Blue Dragons are now 4-5 in overtime under head coach John Ontjes. … Kelsey Brett tied season highs with six points and two 3-pointers. … Dejanae Roebuck's double-double is the 20th for the Blue Dragons this season. … The Dragons tied team season highs of 15 steals and eight blocked shots. … The Dragons are 3-3 when trailing after the first quarter.