BARBER POWERS DRAGONS PAST PANTHERS

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

Sophomore Kayla Barber produced her first career 20-point game and the No. 15 Hutchinson Community College Women's Basketball team produced a season high offensive output as the Blue Dragons defeated the Neosho County Panthers 91-50 on Wednesday night at the Sports Arena.

The Blue Dragons had another strong defensive night by forcing 36 Neosho County turnovers and holding the Panthers to 32.0 percent shooting. Of those 36 turnovers, which tied an opponent high for the 2017-18 season, 25 came by a Hutchinson steal. That mark tied three other teams for the fourth most in Hutchinson single-game history.

Hutchinson improves to 19-3 overall, including 15-3 in the Jayhawk Conference. The Blue Dragons remain one game behind Seward County for first place in the KJCCC. Neosho County dropped its eighth in a row and falls to 6-16 and 3-15.

Barber scored a career-high 20 points on 6 of 10 shooting, going 3 of 6 from 3-point range and 5 of 5 from the foul line. The six field goals, three treys and five free throws all tied career highs for Barber. She added six rebounds and three steals in 17 minutes.

Freshman Jada Mickens posted her team-high 10th double-double with 16 points, 10 rebounds and a career-high six steals.

Freshman Dejanae Roebuck had 12 points with eight rebounds and two steals. Sophomore Alicia Brown had 11 points. Sara Cramer finished with nine and Kelsey Brett tied a career high witih eight points. All 11 Blue Dragons to suit up on Wednesday scored in the game.

The Blue Dragons were 29 of 64 shooting (45.3 percent), hitting 7 of 17 from 3-point range and 26 of 33 from the free-throw line. The Dragons owned a 42-36 rebounding advantage. Hutch also tied a season high with eight blocked shots.

The Panthers were 16 of 50 shooting, hitting 6 of 20 from 3-point range and 12 of 16 from the free-throw line. In two games against Hutchinson, the Panthers had a combined 62 turnovers.

Calea Augustin had 10 points and Alexis Boyd finished with nine points for Neosho County.

Hutchinson scored the game's first 10 points with early 3-pointers from Cramer and Mickens. Neosho County scored its first points at the 6:13 mark of the period, a 3-pointer from DeQuandra Lyles. Barber's first 3-pointer of the game gave Hutch its first double-digit lead at 15-4 with 3:27 to play in the opening quarter. The Dragons led by as many as 13 points, but Neosho's third 3-pointer of the period cut the Dragon lead to 20-10 after the first quarter. The Dragons had an 11-0 advantage in points off turnovers in the first 10 minutes of the game.

The Panthers cut the Dragon lead to 20-13 with 8:51 remaining in the second quarter. The Dragons again made it a 12-point lead when Allissia Green hit a jumper as the shot clock expired with 7 minutes to play for a 25-13 lead. The Dragons had three leads of 14 points in the second quarter, the final coming at37-23 after two Roebuck free throws with 1:37 left. The Panthers scored the final four points to cut the Hutch lead to 37-27 by halftime.

The Blue Dragons owned the third quarter with a 24-2 run to start the quarter. Hutch scored 20 unanswered points in that run and build a 61-29 lead on a Barber putback with 3:35 to play in the quarter. The 30-points in the third quarter tied a season high as Hutch shot 50 percent in a 39-8 third quarter and Hutch led 67-35 after three periods.

A Mickens lay-up with 7:32 to play gave the Dragons a 37-point lead at 76-39. A Green steal and layup gave the Blue Dragons their largest lead of the game at 41 with 1:05 to play (88-47).

The Blue Dragons travel to Colby for a 2 p.m. game on Sunday at the Colby Community Building.

GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons are now 24-2 all-time against Neosho County, including 15-2 at the Sports Arena. … Sophomore Brianna Bradshaw tied a career high with three steals. … Kelsey Brett had her fifth game with two 3-pointers. … Freshman Tia Bradshaw tied a career high with four steals. … Fama Gueye scored her first career points and tied a season high with three blocked shots. … The Blue Dragons had a 45-4 advantage in points off turnovers. … The 54 points scored in the second half were a season high.