DRAGONS FIND SCORING TOUCH TO SNAP SKID

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

GREAT BEND – The No. 23-ranked Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team shot a season-high 53.8 percent to break an offensive drought and snap a two-game losing streak on Wednesday at Barton.

The Blue Dragons had one of their most balanced offensive games this season and defeated the Cougars 75-57 at the Barton Gym.

Hutchinson improves to 21-5 overall and 17-5 in the Jayhawk Conference. Hutch is still tied for third place with Cowley, Saturday's opponent at the Sports Arena. Barton falls to 13-13 and 10-12 in the conference.

Unlike the games in their two-game losing streak where they were outscored 25-11 combined, the Blue Dragons had strong first quarter against Barton, hitting 8 of 15 shots, including a pair of 3-pointers from Sara Cramer, to build a 19-11 lead.

Hutch expanded its leads to 40-27 at halftime.

Freshman Jada Mickens led five Blue Dragons in double figures with 13 points on 6 of 9 shooting. Mickens also added seven rebounds.

Making her first career start, freshman Kelsey Brett posted a career-high 12 points with three assists and two steals. Brett hit a pair of 3-pointers on six attempts.

Freshman Dejanae Roebuck had 11 points with three rebounds and three assists. Cramer and sophomore Alicia Brown scored 10 points each. Cramer was 3 of 6 from 3-point range. Tia Bradshaw added nine points and Coretta Hopkins chipped in seven.

The Blue Dragons connected on 28 of 52 total shots for a season-high 52.8 percent. The Dragons were 7 of 20 from 3-point range and 12 of 17 from the free-throw line. The Dragon did suffer their worst negative rebounding margin of the season at minus 12 after being out-rebounded 38-26.

The Dragons committed 10 turnovers to Barton's 17 and outscored the Cougars 21-6 in points off turnovers.

Barton was led by Taylor Regan's 13 points. Jaylin Stapleton and Fatou Seck Ndao had 12 points each.

Barton shot 20 of 56 (35.7 percent), hitting 5 of 12 3-pointers and 12 of 17 from the free-throw line.

The Blue Dragons broke open a three-point game in the first quarter when a 10-5 run over the final 2:09 of the period. Hopkins' three-point play sparked the run. The lead was pushed to double figures for the first time late in the period when Roebuck scored inside to make it 19-8.

Barton came out hot to start the second and put the Blue Dragon lead to 24-18 with 8:27 to play in the period. A Mickens bucket with 5:14 remaining pushed the lead to 29-20. Brett and Cramer hit back-to-back 3s to make it 35-22 with 3:24 to go. Hopkins scored with 58 seconds left to build a 40-24 lead. The Dragons led 40-26 at halftime.

The Blue Dragons held Barton to 3 of 12 shooting in the third quarter and was able to extend their lead. Hutch's advantage reached a game-high 22 after a Brett 3-pointer with 1:41 to play in the period made it 56-34.

GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons are now 35-54 all-time against Barton in defeating the Cougars for the seventh time in a row. … Alicia Brown surpassed the 500 career-point mark on Wednesday. … Kelsey Brett had two 3-pointers in a game for the seventh time this season. … Sara Cramer reached the 50 3-point mark on Wednesday. … This was Hutch's third 50-percent shooting game of the season. … The Blue Dragons are 2-1 when being out-rebounded this season.