Hutchinson CC Sports Information

While the Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team goes through its growing pains offensively, the Blue Dragons have already been counting a staple of the John Ontjes era – Defense.

Allowing only 46.3 points per game, the No. 7-ranked Blue Dragons (3-0) face Hesston College (0-7) in a non-league matchup at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the Sports Arena. The Blue Dragons close a season-opening four-game season-opening homestand.

After Tuesday, the Blue Dragons won't play again in the Sports Arena until the Jayhawk Conference opener against Coffeyville on November 27.

So far, the Blue Dragons have held opponents nearly 28 points under those teams' season-scoring average, including holding No. 17 Western Nebraska 31 points under its 90-point scoring average.

Hutchinson has allowed its three opponents to shoot just 27.8 percent and just 20 percent from 3-point range. The Blue Dragons are forcing 22.7 turnovers per game.

Since Ontjes was hired as head coach before the 2007-08 season, the Blue Dragons have allowed only three teams shoot 50 percent or better in 423 games.

Offensively, the Blue Dragons are averaging 67.7 points per game, shooting 41.4 percent overall and 31.7 percent from 3-point range.

Sophomore Abby Ogle is averaging 17.3 points per game. She has made 6 of her last 9 3-point attempts. Sophomore Brooklyn Betham is averaging 12.0 rebounds per game.

The Blue Dragons face a Hesston team that is averaging 52 points per game, but is giving up 77.1 points per game. Over and weekend, Hesston lost to Coffeyville (89-33) and Crowder College (68-46). The Larks are 0-3 vs. NJCAA Division I competition.

Hutchinson is 22-2 all-time against Hesston. The last Hesston win came in 1976. Last season, the Blue Dragons defeated the Larks 92-48.