BLUE DRAGONS ENTER BREAK WITH ROUT OF CLOUD COUNTY

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

The Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team will enter the Christmas break on a six-game winning streak after blitzing the Cloud County Thunderbirds on Wednesday night at the Sports Arena.

Six players scored in double figures and six posted a statistical career high as the No. 7-ranked Blue Dragons posted the largest margin of victory in series history with Cloud County after a 101-35 Jayhawk Conference victory.

The Blue Dragons go into the Christmas break with a 12-1 overall record and a 5-0 mark in the Jayhawk West to lead the league by one-half game over Seward County. Cloud County dropped its fourth game in a row and fell to 6-8 and 1-4. Hutchinson returns to action, opening the second semester on Saturday, January 4 with a home game against the Allen Red Devils.

The Blue Dragons shot 58.8 percent and held Cloud County to 2 of 13 shooting in a 26-6 first period. The Dragons led 46-21 at halftime and then outscored the Thunderbirds 55-14 in the second half.

Sophomore Abby Ogle led the Blue Dragons with 20 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals. Ogle hit 8 of 11 shots with two 3-pointers.

Sophomore Makayla Vannett knocked down five 3-point goals to finish with 17 points and three assists. Vannett moved past Jamie Patrick into seventh place on the Blue Dragon career 3-point list with 136).

Sophomore Lauren Mapusua scored a career-high 16 points with six assists, two steals and two blocked shots.

Brooklyn Betham had 11 points, seven rebounds and a career-high three blocked shots.

Kyra Paniora and Sasha Francis had 10 points each. Paniora finished with a career-best seven assists. Francis had a career-high five assists.

Nafatoumata Haidara had nine points and career highs of 12 rebounds and four steals with two blocked shots. Gelecia Cooper had eight points and career highs of 13 rebounds and four assists.

The Blue Dragons shot better than 50 percent for the third time this season at 56.8 percent (42 of 74), hitting 9 of 21 from 3-point range and 8 of 15 from the free-throw line. Hutchinson had 32 assists, which tied for the third most in team single-game history. Five different players had four or more assists. The Blue Dragons outrebounded Cloud County 57-43.

Cloud County was held to a season-low 18.9 percent shooting (14 of 74), going 3 of 19 from 3-point range and 4 of 13 from the free-throw line. The Thunderbirds committed 21 turnovers.

The Blue Dragons are now 44-27 all-time against Cloud County.