BLUE DRAGONS SECURE REGIONAL SECOND SEED

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

DODGE CITY – The Hutchinson Community College Women's Basketball team secured the second seed for the upcoming Region VI Tournament and finished tied for second place in the Jayhawk Conference after the No. 22 Blue Dragons closed the regular season with a 50-35 victory on Monday at Dodge City.

The Blue Dragons close the regular season with a 25-5 overall record and tied Independence with a 21-5 record.

Hutchinson will play Pratt in the opening round of the Region VI Tournament. That game will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday at the Sports Arena.

Freshman Jada Mickens led all scorers with 12 points on 5 of 7 shooting. She added six rebounds.

Freshman Sara Cramer and sophomore Alicia Brown had eight points each. Freshman Tia Bradshaw added seven points and four assists.

The Blue Dragons shot 18 of 42 for the game (42.9 percent), hitting 2 of 15 from 3-point range and 12 of 20 from the free-throw line. The Dragons out-rebounded Dodge City 31-28 and turned the ball over 17 times.

Dodge City was limited to 30.4 percent shooting (14 of 46), hitting 1 of 11 from 3-point range and 6 of 12 from the free-throw line. The Conquistadors had turnovers.

Mikaela Ewing had eight points to lead Dodge City (11-19, 8-18). Allie Baker had seven points

After battling to a 10-10 draw after one period – Brown hit a scoop shot in the lane at the buzzer to force the tie – took the lead for good on a Mickens' 15-footer with 7:46 to play in the second quarter. The Dragons made it a 7-0 run with a Kelsey Brett 3-pointer and Tia Bradshaw steal and layup to lead 19-14 with 6:26 to play in the period.

The Dragons built a nine-point lead on a Brett layup with 1:55 to play that gave Hutch a 25-16 lead. Dodge City scored the final four points of the period and Hutch led 25-20 at intermission.

The Blue Dragons finally pushed their lead to 10 points for the first time when Cramer hit a 3-pointer with 3:16 to play in the third quarter that made it 36-26. Hutch scored the final four points of the quarter to build a 42-29 lead after three quarters.

Hutchinson outscored Dodge City 8-6 in the fourth quarter and limited the Conquistadors to only 15 points in the second half on 6 of 25 shooting.

GAME NOTES – This was the fourth-straight game that Hutchinson end an opponent to less than 50 points in a game. … The Blue Dragons are now 66-27 all-time against Dodge City. … This was the 25th time this season that Hutch held an opponent to less than 40 percent shooting and the fourth tie to hold an opponent to less than 40 points in a game.