DRAGONS PULL AWAY IN 2ND HALF TO TOPPLE TECH
Hutchinson CC Sports Information
GOODLAND – Sophomore Abby Ogle scored 20 points in the second half to lead a much-needed surge for the Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team on Wednesday at Northwest Tech.
Tied at halftime with the Mavericks, the No. 6-ranked Blue Dragons started the second half fast and defeated the Mavericks 73-53 in a Jayhawk West matchup at Max Jones Fieldhouse, Hutchinson's eighth-consecutive victory.
The Blue Dragons improve to 22-2 and remain tied for first place in the Jayhawk West with Seward County at 14-1. Hutchinson plays host to Garden City at 2 p.m. on Saturday at the Sports Arena. Northwest Tech falls to 8-15, 4-11.
The Blue Dragons led 30-20 with 4:24 remaining in the second quarter. The Dragons went scoreless for the remainder of the period – Hutchinson was 1 of 11 shooting in the second quarter – and Northwest Tech tied the longest scoring run of the season against the Dragons with a 10-0 run to tie the game at 30-30 at halftime on a Jada Russell jumper at the buzzer.
The third quarter was a much different story for Hutchinson. The Blue Dragons scored the first eight points of the third quarter and ultimately built a 19-1 run that was capped by a Makayla Vannett layup with 2:01 to play in the third quarter.
Ogle scored nine points in a 19-12 third quarter. She added 11 more points in the fourth quarter. Hutchinson led 49-42 after three quarters and outscored the Mavericks 24-11 in the final 10 minutes.
Ogle finished with a game-high 24 points on 9 of 12 shooting, 6 of 6 from the free-throw line. With five steals on Wednesday, Ogle moved past Inja Butina into second place on the Blue Dragon career steals list with 195 steals. Ogle added eight rebounds.
Sophomore Makayla Vannett moved into third place on the career 3-point list, breaking a tie with Amy Ansel (1994-96) with her lone 3-pointer of the evening. Vannett was 7 of 13 overall from the field and finished with 15 points and five rebounds.
Sophomore Lauryn Mapusua finished with 15 points. Freshman Tor'e Alford had eight points with career highs of seven rebounds and seven assists.
The Blue Dragons shot 48.3 percent (28 of 58), hitting a season-low three 3-poitners in 14 attempts. The Dragons were 14 of 21 from the free-throw line. Hutch had a 44-25 rebounding advantage, but committed 21 turnovers.
Zantasia White hit three 3-pointers and finished with 20 points to lead Northwest Tech. Lauryn Vieira had 12 points and Jada Russell had 10 for the Mavericks. Northwest Tech shot 41.5 percent (22 of 53), hitting 4 of 22 from 3-point range and 5 of 12 from the free-throw line. The Mavericks had 18 turnovers.
GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons are now 5-1 all-time against Northwest Tech, 2-0 in Goodland. … This was all-time Blue Dragon win No. 998. … Abby Ogle moved into 10th place on the single-season steals list with 96. … This was only third time this season Hutchinson has allowed an opponent to shoot 40 percent or better. … Ogle has scored in double figures in 14-straight games and 20 games this season. … Ogle also had her eight game this season and 16th career game with five or more steals.