DRAGON DEFENSE COOLS OFF COUGARS

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

The nation's No. 4-ranked defensive team showed why it has attained that lofty ranking on Wednesday at the Sports Arena.

The Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team held the Barton Cougars, winners in 6 of their last 7 games, 30 points under their season scoring average and forced 27 turnovers in a key Jayhawk West battle on Wednesday night.

The No. 6-ranked Blue Dragons held the Cougars to less than 50 points for the second time this season in an 87-49 victory, Hutch's ninth consecutive over the Cougars.

Hutchinson's win, combined with Seward County win over Northwest Tech on Wednesday sets up a winner-take-all showdown on Saturday in Liberal between the No. 6 Blue Dragons and No. 2 Saints. The Blue Dragons improve to 28-1 overall, 19-1 in the Jayhawk West. Barton is 20-9 overall and 13-7 in the league.

The Blue Dragons have now won nine games in a row against Barton.

Barton came into the game averaging 79 points per game offensively. The Blue Dragons limited the Cougars to six points after one quarter, 16 at halftime and 30 through three quarters. The Cougars had just nine total field goals through three quarters.

The Cougars' two lowest scoring outputs this season have come against Hutchinson.

Barton was 14 of 45 shooting overall (31.1 percent), hitting 1 of 15 from 3-point range and 20 of 24 from the free-throw line. The Cougars turned the ball over 27 times, which Hutch turned into a 37-10 advantage in points off turnovers.

The Blue Dragons were 33 of 67 shooting (49.3 percent), hitting 11 of 31 3-pointers and 10 of 14 from the free-throw line.

Tia Bradshaw and Jada Mickens tied for game-high scoring honors with 15 points each. Bradshaw was 6 of 11 shooting and had four assists and three steals. Mickens knocked down a couple of 3-pointers and added five rebounds and four assists.

Makayla Vannett hit 4 of 6 3-pointers and finished with 12 points and three assists. Dejanae Roebuck had 11 points and six rebounds.

Jaylin Stapleton led Barton with game-high 16 points, going 9 of 9 from the free-throw line.

Hutch led 14-6 after the first quarter and took full control of the game with a 16-3 run over the final 6:18 of the first half to lead 36-16 at halftime.

GAME NOTES – The 28 wins are the eighth most in a season in program history. … The Dragons still trail the all-time series with Barton 54-37. … This was all-time win No. 971. … Dejanae Roebuck move past Kirea Rogers into No. 11 on the all-time Blue Dragon scoring list with 90- points. … Hutch has held an opponent to less than 40 percent shooting 25 times and to less than 50 points 13 times this season. … The Dragons hit 10 or more 3-pointers in a game for the third time this season. … Hutch has held three opponents to one three-pointer in a game three times. … Makayla Vannett has hit a 3-pointer in 27 of 28 games.