LATE FIRST-HALF SURGE POWERS DRAGONS PAST T-BIRDS

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

Sophomore Lojong Gore scored a career-high 17 points and the Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team used a decisive second-quarter run to positively respond to the Blue Dragons' first loss of the season to Butler last Wednesday.

No. 11 Hutchinson rolled to a decisive 76-44 victory over the Thunderbirds on Saturday at the Sports Arena.

The Blue Dragons improve to 4-1 overall and are 3-1 in the Jayhawk West. Cloud County falls to 3-2 overall and 2-2 in the Jayhawk East. Hutchinson won its fourth-straight and fifth in the last six meetings against Cloud County.

The game was tied at 18 with 7:17 to play in the second quarter. That when Gore took over offensively and the Dragon defense asserted itself.

Gore scored nine points during a decisive 15-3 run where the Thunderbirds went scoreless for nearly four full minutes. Cloud County was held to 1 for 11 shooting with three turnovers as Hutchinson built a 33-21 lead at halftime.

The Blue Dragons turned in one of their best defensive performances this season by holding the Thunderbirds to 30 points under their 74-point season scoring average. Cloud County shot only 21.9 percent from the floor and was 1 of 13 from 3-point range. Both of those marks were T-Bird season lows and Blue Dragon opponent season lows.

The Blue Dragons also shut down Cloud County's leading scorer Le'Yanna McGinnis, who averaged 25.0 points and 9.0 rebounds. McGinnis was limited to only five points on 1 of 13 shooting and six rebounds.

Gore either established or tied her career scoring mark for the fourth-straight game with 17 points and nine rebounds to lead the Blue Dragons. Gore was 7 of 12 shooting and she added two assists.

Tor'e Alford had another big all-around game with 14 points, four rebounds and a career-high 10 assists. Freshman K.K. Adams had 14 points on 2 of 3 shooting from 3-point range. Sophomore Kate Ogle had 13 points and seven rebounds.

The Blue Dragons shot 49.2 percent from the field (31 of 63), going 3 for 12 from 3-point range and 11 of 14 from the three-throw line. The Blue Dragons out-rebounded the Thunderbirds 56-39. Hutchinson had 19 turnovers.

Sydni Keys finished with 11 points to lead the Thunderbirds. Idalis Lee had eight points and eight rebounds. Cloud County made only 16 of 73 total shots and had 12 turnovers.

Hutchinson extended its run to 26-5 over the first 3 1/2 minutes of the third quarter. A Lani Morris bucket in the paint gave the Blue Dragons a 44-23 lead with 6:27 to play in the period. The Blue Dragons outscored Cloud County 24-12 in the third quarter and led 57-33 through three quarters.

GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons are now 45-27 all-time against Cloud County, 20-12 in the Sports Arena. … The Dragons had team season highs with 54 rebounds and six blocked shots. … The Dragons are 4-0 at home this season. … Hutch's largest lead was 34 (74-40) with 3:19 to play in the final quarter.