DRAGON ‘D’ DOES NUMBER ON TIGERS

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

When the Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team defeated Cowley in January, the Blue Dragons held the Tigers to 1 of 22 from 3-point range.

In the rematch on Saturday at the Sports Arena, Hutchinson's defense was even better against the Tigers,

No. 23 Hutchinson held Cowley to a season-low offensive output and swept the season series from the Tigers in a 67-45 Jayhawk Conference victory on Hutchinson's seventh-annual Pink-Out Night.

The Blue Dragons improve to 22-5 overall and 19-5 in the Jayhawk Confernece. The victory was Hutchinson's 11th consecutive over the Tigers.

While Cowley hit five more 3-pointers in the second game against Hutch, the Blue Dragons held the Tigers 29.5 points under their season scoring average of 74.5 points per game. Cowley shot 17 of 51 overall (33.3 percent), hitting 6 of 20 from 3-point range. The Tigers turned the ball over 18 times. The Blue Dragons held a 22-3 advantage in points off turnovers.

The Blue Dragons broke the game open with a defensive gem in the third quarter. Cowley was limited 2 of 11 shooting in the period as Hutch outscored the Tigers 15-7 in the period to lead 53-33 after three quarters.

Hutchinson's defense held Kaitlyn Potter, the Jayhawk Conference's leading scorer, 11 points under of 20.8 point scoring average. Potter made only 3 of 10 shots; all three were 3-pointers, to finish with nine points.

Freshman forward Jada Mickens posted her 12th double-double of the season with 15 points and 11 rebounds to lead three Blue Dragons in double figures.

Freshman guard Kelsey Brett established a new career scoring high for the second-straight game with 14 points on 5 of 9 overall shooting. Brett hit a career high with four 3-pointers in six attempts.

Freshman guard Tia Bradshaw had 10 points, five rebounds and three steals. Dejanae Roebuck added nine points and seven rebounds. Kayla Bradshaw had eight points and seven rebounds.

The Blue Dragons shot 37.1 percent from the field (23 of 62), hitting 9 of 28 from 3-point range. Eight of those 3-pointers came in the first half. The Dragons owns a 41-34 rebounding advantage. The Dragons had just 10 turnovers in the game.

Kedraena Addison also had nine points for the Tigers.

Hutchinson had a fast start with an 11-2 lead over the first 4 1/2 minutes after a three-point play by Mickens. The Tigers answered with a 12-3 run to tie the game at 14 on an Addison jumper with 51 seconds left to play in the period. The Dragons scored the final five points of the period to lead 19-14 after one quarter.

The Blue Dragons used the 3-point line to gain an advantage in the second quarter. Leading 23-22 in the middle stages of the period. The Blue Dragons nailed 3-pointers on three-straight possessions – two from Bradshaw and one from Brett – to power a 9-2 run and lead 32-24 with 3:09 to play in the second quarter. Brett hit another trey with 40 seconds left to push the lead to nine points and Barber added a 3-pointer with 11 seconds left to give the Dragons a 38-26 lead at halftime. The Dragons were 5 of 10 from 3-point range in the second quarter.

Hutchinson held Cowley without a field goal and only two free throws over the final 6 minutes, 45 seconds of the period. Leading 43-31, the Blue Dragons outscored Cowley 10-2 in the final 6:14. When Mickens converted another three-point play, Hutch led 53-31 with 3:05 to play in the period. Hutch went scoreless for the remainder of the period and still maintained a 53-33 lead after three quarters.

The victory give Hutchison sole possession of third place in the Jayhawk Conference, one game behind Independence. The Blue Dragons travel to Iola on Wednesday to play the Allen Red Devils in a 6 p.m. contest.

GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons are now 24-22 all-time against Cowley, including 10-6 at the Sports Arena. … The Dragons outscored Cowley 28-16 in the paint and 17-4 in second chance points. … The Dragons had a 12-5 advantage in offensive rebounds.