DRAGONS BLISTER COUGARS WITH 13 3-POINTERS

Tor'e Alford nailed a career-high seven 3-pointers for a career-best 24 points in No. 12 Hutchinson's 86-67 victory on Wednesday at Barton (Bre Rogers/Blue Dragon Sports Information)

February 19, 2020

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

GREAT BEND – After two straight sub-par offensive games, the Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team found its offensive touch Wednesday night at Barton Community College.

Freshman Tor'e Alford led a barrage of 13 3-pointers against the Cougars as the 12th-ranked Blue Dragons maintained their share of the lead in the Jayhawk West with an 86-67 victory over Barton at the Barton Gym.

The Blue Dragons improve to 26-3 and remain tied for first in the Jayhawk West at 18-2. Hutchinson will now play Seward County at 5:30 p.m. Saturday with the winner claiming the 2020 Jayhawk West championship. Barton is now in a three-way tie for third in the league at 10-10. The Cougars are 14-15 overall.

Alford hit a career-high seven 3-pointers in nine attempts to power the Blue Dragons' offensive resurgence. Alford scored a career-high 24 points.

Alford's first 3-pointer gave the Blue Dragons a quick 20-8 lead with 2:41 to play in the first quarter. She was 3 for 3 from distance in the first half as the Blue Dragons raced out to a 46-27 lead at halftime. Her final three 3-pointers game in the first 2:40 of the fourth quarter and helped Hutchinson extend a 15-point lead after three periods to a 74-51 lead with 7:19 to play in the game.

Hutch's 13 3-pointers tie for fifth-most in single-game history and ties for the second-most 3-pointers in a game this season. The 2020 Blue Dragons move up to third place on the all-time 3-point team list with 231. Alford's seven treys marks the 13th time in team history a player has had at least seven 3-pointers in a game. She matches Makayla Vannett for the most individual 3-pointers in a game this season.

Vannett knocked down 4 3-pointers against Barton to move her career total to 180 and her season total to 86. Abby Ogle and Sasha Francis added 3-pointers.

The Blue Dragons shot 52.5 percent overall (31 of 59) in the victory. Hutch also hit 11 of 15 free throws and owned a 37-31 rebounding advantage. The Dragons had 23 assists – Lauryn Mapusua tied a career high with eight assists to lead the Dragons – on 31 made baskets.

Center Brooklyn Bethem posted her third-straight double-double and seventh of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Vannett finished with 12 points and four steals. Mapusua had eight points and Ogle returned to the line-up and contributed seven points, six rebounds and six assists.

The Blue Dragons limited Barton to 37.5 percent shooting (21 of 56), only 8 of 27 in the first half. The Cougars were 7 of 21 from 3-point range and 18 of 24 from the free-throw line.

Vanessa Oduah had 22 points on 9 of 18 shooting with seven rebounds to lead the Cougars. D'Shonda Hunt scored 12 of her 14 points in the second half. Queen Olabo also had 14 points and Richelle Turney had 11, but on 3 of 15 shooting.

GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons won their 11th consecutive game over Barton and now trail in the all-time series 54-39. … Hutch earned all-time win No. 1,002. … This was Hutch's sixth game this season with 10 or more 3-poiners, third with 13 or more. … The Blue Dragons went 9-2 in road games this season.