ERVIN SPARKS BLUE DRAGONS TO COMEBACK WIN AT COLBY

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

COLBY – Freshman Kalyn Ervin snapped a scoring slump at the perfect time for the Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team on Saturday.

Ervin provided a needed spark, especially in the fourth quarter, to lead the Blue Dragons to a 62-57 Jayhawk West victory at the Colby Community Building.

The Blue Dragons maintain their 0.5-game lead in the Jayhawk West at 11-3 overall and 10-3 in the league. The Trojans drop to 3-10 overall and 2-10 in the Jayhawk West.

Hutchinson faced an uphill battle all game long.

The Blue Dragons suffered through a scoreless drought of 10 minutes, 8 seconds in the first and second quarters and saw an early five-point lead turn into an 18-6 deficit after Kerrigan Johnson's 3-pointer with 7:58 to play in the second period capped a 17-0 Colby run and an 18-6 lead.

From that point, the Blue Dragons outscored Colby 17-5 over the remainder of the second quarter and tied the game after a Ishante Suttington steal and layup with 36 seconds left in the period and the game was tied at 23-all at halftime.

Trailing 40-39 at halftime, Ervin asserted herself with a strong fourth quarter.

Twenty seconds into the fourth quarter Lani Morris scored to give the Blue Dragons a 41-40 lead. After a defensive stop, Ervin knocked down a 3-pointer for a 44-40 lead with 8:45 to play. The Trojans fought back to tie the low-possession game at 50-all with 4:31 to play. Tied at 52, Suttington scored 3:17 left to give the Dragons the lead for good.

Ervin scored 11 points in the fourth quarter to help the Blue Dragons outscore 23-17 in the fourth quarter and 12-7 over the final 4:31 to close out the Blue Dragons' 12th-straight victory over Colby.

Ervin scored all 14 of her team-high points in the second half in the second half. Ervin hadn't scored in double figures since January 20 against the Bethany JV, a streak of 12 games. Ervin was 5 of 8 shooting, including 2 of 4 from 3-point range.

Lojong Gore posted her fourth double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds. K.K. Adams had a couple of early 3-pointers to lead Hutch's second quarter comeback and finished with 13 points. Kate Ogle just missed a double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds. Ogle also had a career-high five assists.

The Blue Dragons shot 22 of 51 overall (43.1 percent), going 20 of 40 over the final three quarters after starting 2 of 11 in the first quarter. Hutchinson was 5 of 17 from 3-point range and 13 of 19 from the free-throw line. The Dragons out-rebounded Colby 34-29 and committed 17 turnovers, eight coming in the first quarter.

The Trojans shot 24 of 59 (40.7 percent), hitting 5 of 19 from 3-point range and 4 of 6 from the line.

Johnson finished with 17 points to lead the Trojans. Kiarra Henderson had 14 points and 10 rebounds. Marveen Ross had a game-high 11 rebounds.

The Blue Dragons will travel to Dodge City on Monday for a 5:30 p.m. contest.

GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons are 52-14 all-time against Colby, including 22-7 in Colby.