DRAGONS BLOW OUT ELLSWORTH TO CLOSE POLO HOLIDAY CLASSIC

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

Dejanae Roebuck and Keeley Tini posted double-doubles and the Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team posted the eighth-largest blowout in team history on Saturday to close out the Polo Bar & Grill/Blue Dragon Holiday Classic at the Sports Arena.

No. 6 Hutchinson posted its first shutout in a quarter since the women's game went to quarters before the 2015-16 season and rocked the Ellsworth Panthers 95-22.

The Blue Dragons improve to 14-0, going 9-0 in the non-conference season and 2-0 in the Polo Holiday Classic. Hutchinson returns to Jayhawk Conference play on Saturday, January 5 in a 2 p.m. game at Allen in Iola.

The Blue Dragons posted their second margin of victory of 70 or more points this season. Saturday's 73-point win is the eighth largest in team history.

The 22 points allowed tied for the 11th fewest in team history. Hutchinson shut out Ellsworth in the second quarter, outscoring the Panthers 24-0. Ellsworth was 0 for 9 from the field in both the second and fourth quarters. Ellsworth scored just one point in the final period.

The Dragons' defense held Ellsworth to Hutch opponent season lows of 22 points, seven field goals, three free throws and 16 rebounds. Ellsworth was 7 of 36 shooting (19.4 percent), 5 of 22 from 3-point range and 3-7 from the foul line. The Blue Dragons forced 35 Ellsworth turnovers, which ties a season high for the Blue Dragons.

Hutchinson shot 49.3 percent overall (37 of 75), hitting 5 of 20 from 3-point range and 16 of 23 from the free-throw line. The Dragons out-rebounded Ellsworth 53-16. The Dragons had 20 assists, 22 steals and seven blocked shots and committed 13 turnovers.

Jada Mickens scored a season-high 19 points on 8 of 11 shooting to lead the Blue Dragons offensively. Mickens also had four steals.

Roebuck had her team-high fourth and 17th career double-double with 14 points and a season-high 13 rebounds. Roebuck added four steals and a pair of assists.

Tini garnered her first double-double with career highs of 14 points and 10 boards. Tini hit 6 of 8 shots in the game.

Makayla Vannett with the fourth Blue Dragon scoring in double figures with 10 points. Tijuana Kimbro had eight points and tied her career high in rebounds for the fourth time this season with nine boards. Sara Cramer and Makayla Johnson added seven points each and Kelsey Brett had six.

Danielle Woodruff had 10 points to lead Ellsworth.

Vannett's 3-pointer just 4 seconds into the game set an early tone for Hutchinson. The Blue Dragons scored the first seven points and then held Ellsworth scoreless for 5 minutes, 8 seconds as a Jada Mickens three-point play gave the Dragons a 17-3 lead with 3:27 to go. Outscoring Ellsworth 16-0 on turnovers in the opening quarter, the Blue Dragons led 25-8 after the opening period.

With the Blue Dragons shutting out Ellsworth in the second quarter to build a 49-8 lead at halftime, Hutchinson's defense held the Panthers scoreless for 14 minutes, 17 seconds and Hutch scored 36 unanswered points to lead 55-8 with 7:27 to play in the third quarter.

Ellsworth went without a field goal for 19 minutes, 38 seconds.

The Panthers had their best offensive quarter in the third period, scoring 13 points on 4 of 10 shooting with three 3-pointers. Hutch then outscored Ellsworth 26-1 in the fourth quarter.

GAME NOTES – This was the first time that Hutchinson and Ellsworth have met in women's basketball. … The Blue Dragons are now 22-5 in Holiday Classic games. … The last time that Hutch allowed 22 or fewer points in a game was March 1, 2018 against Pratt in the opening round of the Region VI Tournament. … This was the fourth time in the John Ontjes era to hold an opponent to 22 points or fewer. … This was the seventh time to hold an opponent to less than 30 percent shooting and second time to hold an opponent to less than 20 percent. … Lauryn Mapusua had a career-high six steals.