EARLY, LATE RUNS POWER DRAGONS TO WIN NO. 20

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

DODGE CITY – A quick nine-point run to start the game set the Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team up for a victory. A huge run over the final 15 minutes clinched season win No. 20 on Wednesday night.

After their initial run, the No. 4 Blue Dragons sputtered offensively, but Hutchinson closed strong for a 65-35 Jayhawk West victory at Dodge City.

The Blue Dragons move to 20-0 overall, going 11-0 in the Jayhawk West. Hutchinson wins 20 games in a season for the 27th time in the program's 45-year history. The Dragons start a season 20-0 for the fifth time in team history. The 20-game win streak is the sixth longest in program history. Dodge City falls to 9-12 overall and has dropped 8 of its last 10 games.

The Blue Dragons started the game on a 9-0 run, the first seven points coming from sophomore Dejanae Roebuck. When Makayla Vannett scored, the Dragons led 9-0 just 3 1/2 minutes into the contest. Hutchinson's No. 4 NJCAA-ranked defense held Dodge City scoreless for 6 1/2 minutes. Hutch led 15-8 after one quarter and 22-9 after a Vannett 3-pointer.

The Dragons struggled for the remainder of the half – Hutch 33.3 percent in the first half. Dodge City went on a 12-4 run to pull within 26-21. Vannett then knocked down her third 3-pointer of the game to give Hutchinson a 29-21 lead at halftime.

Leading 31-26 midway through the third quarter, Roebuck scored and then Vannett hit her fourth 3-pointer to give Hutch a 36-26 lead with 4 minutes to go in the third quarter. Two Jada Mickens free throws gave helped Hutch close the third with a 16-5 run and a 42-26 lead after three.

The Dragons outscored Dodge City 36-14 over the final 15 minutes of the game.

Vannett led all scorers with 15 points on 4 of 6 3-point shooting. Vannett added four steals. Dodge City was held to 4 of 30 shooting in the second half.

Roebuck scored 13 points to be Hutch's only other scorer in double figures. She added six rebounds and three assists.

Sophomore Sara Cramer tied a season high with three 3-poitners to score nine points. Mickens and Makayla Johnson scored six points each.

The Blue Dragons shot 39.3 percent (22 of 56), hitting 7 of 23 from 3-point range and 14 of 19 from the foul line. The Blue Dragons out-rebounded Dodge City 48-39.

Ashley Nelson led Dodge City with six points. The Conquistadors finished 12 of 59 (20.3 percent), going 6 of 25 from 3-point range and 5 of 7 from the free-throw line.

The Blue Dragons next play Colby at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Sports Arena.

GAME NOTES – This was Hutch's seventh-straight win over Dodge City, which is now 67-27 all-time against Dodge City. … This was the 14th time that Hutch has held Dodge City to less than 40 points in series history. … This was Hutch's all-time win No. 963. … Hutch held its sixth opponent this season to less than 40 points and sixth opponent to less than 30 percent shooting.