DRAGONS RETURN FROM BREAK WITH VICTORY OVER MAVERICKS

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

Five players scored in double figures and the Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team forced 28 turnovers as the Blue Dragons started the second semester with a 74-42 Jayhawk Conference victory over Northwest Tech on Wednesday night at the Sports Arena.

The Blue Dragons improved to 13-3 overall and 7-3 in the Jayhawk Conference and won its third-consecutive game. The Mavericks fell to 2-11 overall and 0-9 in the league and dropped its ninth-straight game. Hutchinson travels to Seward County on Saturday in Liberal.

The Blue Dragons led 41-26 at halftime, but turned up the defensive intensity in the second half, holding Northwest Tech to just 15 points on 5 of 24 shooting in the second half. The Dragons outscored the Mavericks 33-15 in the second half.

Freshman Mya Williams led a balanced Hutchinson offense with a game-high-tying 15 points on 5 of 10 shooting.

Sophomore Mele Kailahi hit 6 of 9 shots from the floor and finished with 13 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals.

Freshman Janaya Washington scored a career-high 13 points, hitting a pair of 3-pointers and shot 5 of 7 overall.

Sophomore Tor'e Alford had 11 points and freshman Kali Howard had 10 points.

The Blue Dragons shot 46.4 percent overall (26 of 56), hitting 5 of 18 from distance and 17 of 23 from the free-throw line. Hutchinson out-rebounded Northwest Tech 40-26. Freshman Ziya Simms collected a career-high 11 rebounds. The Dragons did have to battle through 25 turnovers.

Moniek Merringa hit three 3-pointers and led Northwest Tech with 15 points. Chloe Andrew and Natalie Lara were next with six points each.

The Mavericks were limited to 28.6 percent shooting overall (14 of 49). Tech hit 7 of 25 3-pointers and went 7 of 8 from the free-throw line.

The Blue Dragons shot 61.5 percent (8 of 13) in opening a 25-16 lead after the first quarter. The Dragons led 9-8 and went on an 8-0 run over a span of 1 minute, 57 seconds. Alford capped the run with a 3-pointer for a 17-8 lead with 5:00 to play. Another 6-0 run boosted the Dragon lead to 25-13 with 33 seconds left in the period.

Northwest Tech started the second quarter on a 6-2 run over the first 3:37 of the period and pulled within 27-22 on a Fante Daffe layup with 6:23 to play. Leading 31-25, the Blue Dragons went on a 10-0 run and built a 16-point lead on a Howard hoop in the paint with 52 seconds to play in the half. Hutchinson led 41-27 at halftime.

The Blue Dragons held Northwest Tech to just one field goal and four total points over the first 7:51 of the third quarter. Leading 49-31, Hutchinson claimed complete control of the game with an 11-0 run. Two Howard free throws with 2:21 to play gave Hutchinson a 60-31 lead.

GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons now lead the all-time series with Northwest Tech 8-1. … With two 3-pointers, Tor'e Alford moved past Jamie Patrick into eighth place on the Blue Dragon career 3-point list with 133.