DRAGONS HAVE ROUGH SECOND HALF; WIN STREAK SNAPPED

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

The Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team's worst half of the season proved costly and the Blue Dragons' 22-game winning streak came to an end on Saturday Night.

No. 8 Seward County dominated the second half, allowing only 15 second-half points as the Saints defeated the No. 3 Blue Dragons 70-54 at the Sports Arena.

The Blue Dragons and Saints are now tied for first place in the Jayhawk West with 13-1 record. Hutchinson is 22-1 overall and Seward County improves to 21-2 and extends its winning streak to 15 games. Seward County has won three in a row in the series.

Hutchinson built a 39-33 lead at halftime, but Seward County took over in the second half. The Blue Dragons led 45-41 with 5:30 to play in the third quarter after a Jada Mickens basket. Seward County then outscored the Dragons 29-9 over the final 15:30 of the game.

Tied at 47 after three quarters, Seward County buried the Blue Dragons with a 16-2 run over the first 5:20 of the fourth quarter. The Saints outscored Hutch 23-7 in the final quarter.

The Blue Dragons were held to 6 of 29 shooting in the second half and just 2 of 13 in a seven-point fourth quarter. Seward County shot 13 of 27, including four 3-pointers.

Hutchinson finished the game shooting 22 of 63 (34.9 percent), going 4 of 17 from 3-point range. After starting the game 3 for 4 from distance, the Dragons missed 12 of their final 13 attempts. Hutch was 6 of 11 from the foul line. The Dragons turned the ball over 25 times.

Three players had 11 points to lead Hutchinson.

Mickens had 11 points with seven rebounds. Makayla Vannett had 11 points with three 3-pointers. Abby Ogle had 11 points, five rebounds and five steals.

Silvia Veloso had 23 points to lead Seward County. Lexi Hernandez had 12 points and Karolina Szydlowska had 11.

Seward County shot 38.1 percent (24 of 63), hitting 7 of 20 from 3-point range and 15 of 18 from the free-throw line.

Hutchinson begins the second round of play in the Jayhawk West with Northwest Tech on Wednesday at the Sports Arena.

GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons trail in the all-time series with Seward County 44-47. … Dejanae Roebuck moved up to 12th on the Blue Dragon career rebounds list with 484. … Hutch's 22-0 start is the fifth-best start in team history. The 22 game winning streak is the sixth longest in team history. … This was the first time this season that Hutchinson trailed in the fourth quarter.