BLUE DRAGONS SUFFER FIRST LOSS OF SEASON

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – The Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team rallied from an 11-point third-quarter deficit to take a six-point lead with 5:39 remaining in the fourth on Thursday in a rematch of last year's NJCAA National Tournament semifinals with New Mexico Junior College.

But the No. 8-ranked Thunderbirds had a rally of their own and handed the No. 7 Blue Dragons their first loss of the season, defeating Hutchinson 66-58 at the Holiday Inn/Hampton Classic hosted by Iowa Western Community College.

The Blue Dragons fall to 6-1 and will play Iowa Western at 5 p.m. on Saturday in Council Bluffs. New Mexico improves to 7-2.

Hutchinson trailed by its largest deficit of the season at 38-27 after New Mexico's Selina Dockery's layup with 8:19 remaining in the third quarter. The Blue Dragons climbed back into the game by holding the Thunderbird scoreless for the final 5 minutes, 18 seconds of the third period to pull within 44-41 on a Makayla Vannett 3-pointer with 1:56 left in the quarter.

New Mexico's scoreless streak extended another 1:36 into the fourth quarter. The Dragons pulled within 44-43 before Ebony Horton hit a 3-pointer with 8:24 to play, pushing the Thunderbird lead to 47-43.

The Blue Dragons answered with a 10-0 run over the next 2:45. The Dragons grabbed their first lead since the second quarter on a Brooklyn Betham field goal for a 50-47 advantage. Abby Ogle then converted a three-point play with 5:39 remaining to give the Dragons a 53-47 lead. From that point the Blue Dragons were outscored by New Mexico 19-5. The Dragons closed the game going just 2 of 7 with three turnovers.

Vannett led three Blue Dragons in double figures with 16 points, hitting 4 of 7 from 3-point range.

Betham missed her second-straight double-double by a rebound with 11 points and nine rebounds. Ogle finished with 10 points, four rebounds, three assists and five steals. Kyra Paniora, Tor'e Alford and Nafatoumata Haidara had five points each.

The Blue Dragons out-shot New Mexico 43.8-42.9 percent, hitting 21 of 48 shots. Hutch was 5 of 17 from 3-point range and 11 of 18 from the free-throw line. The Dragons were out-rebounded 32-31, but gave up 14 offensive rebounds and were outscored in the paint 44-24. The Dragons also committed 21 turnovers.

Zaria Dorsey scored a game-high 26 points with 10 rebounds to lead New Mexico. Horton had 12 points and Dawnuel Lair finished with 10.

The Thunderbirds were 27 of 63 shooting, going 3 of 18 from 3-point range and 9 of 16 from the foul line. New Mexico finished with 19 turnovers.