DRAGONS ROLL BY NEO IN NATIONALLY RANKED BATTLE

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

GREAT BEND – The Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team earned its first win over a nationally ranked team this season on Saturday at the Best Western/Cougar Booster Club Classic at Barton Community College.

Three players scored in double figures and Hutch shot better than 50 percent for a third-straight game as the No. 13 Blue Dragons knocked off No. 20 NEO 82-57, winning both games of the classic.

The Blue Dragons improve to 3-0 overall and will play against the Washburn University JV at 4 p.m. Wednesday in Topeka. NEO falls to 0-2.

Hutchinson hit 29 of 55 total shots (52.7 percent) against NEO. The Dragons were 8 of 19 from 3-point range and 16 of 19 from the foul line.

Freshman Makayla Vannett hit a season-high five 3-pointers, going 5 of 10 from distance to lead Hutchinson in scoring with 18 points. She added four assists.

Sophomore Dejanae Roebuck had a good weekend in Great Bend, finishing with 16 points and 13 rebounds for the team's first double-double this season. Roebuck was 6 of 6 from the line.

Sophomore Tia Bradshaw was 4 of 5 shooting and finished with 11 points and three assists. Abby Ogle Tijuana Kimbro, Keeley Tini and Jada Mickens had six points each.

The Blue Dragons outrebounded NEO 44-27, but had to overcome a season-high 28 turnovers.

NEO shot 32.8 percent (21 of 64), hitting 5 of 23 from 3-point range and 10 of 14 from the foul line. The Norse had 20 turnovers.

Bethany Mununga had 21 points to lead NEO.

Hutch led 22-12 after one quarter and 48-23 at halftime.