DRAGONS DOWN RAVENS TO REACH 20-WIN PLATEAU

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

The Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team reached 20 victories for the 30th time in program history on Saturday at the Hutchinson Sports Arena.

The Blue Dragons sank 13 3-pointers, hitting four in a huge second quarter, to defeat the Coffeyville Red Ravens 84-60 in Blue Dragon head coach John Ontjes' 500th game with the program.

The Blue Dragons extend their current winning streak to seven and extend their Sports Arena winning streak to 19 games. The Blue Dragons improved to 20-4 overall and 14-4 in the Jayhawk Conference. The Blue Dragons travel to Dodge City on Wednesday. Coffeyville dropped its third game in a row and is now 15-8 overall, 9-8 in the KJCCC.

Hutchinson's victory moved Ontjes into a third-place tie for all-time coaching wins in both KJCCC and Region VI women's basketball history with former Coffeyville coach Craig Brookover with 414 victories.

The Blue Dragons hit 13 of 25 shots from 3-point range, their second-highest total of the season. Seven different Hutchinson players hit 3-pointers with Mya Williams leading the way going 4 of 8 from 3-point range, Tor'e Alford hitting 3 of 6 and Mele Kailahi hitting 2 of 3 shots from long range.

Hutchinson's 13 3-pointers tied for the eighth most in Blue Dragon single-game history.

Leading 21-18 after one quarter, the Blue Dragons hit 4 of 9 3-point attempts in the second quarter. The Dragons led 26-22 and hit three 3-pointers by Alford, Natalie Payne and Williams in a 15-5 run over the final 6:11 of the period to lead 41-26 at halftime.

Alford led the Blue Dragons with 19 points, tying a career high with eight free throws in the game. Alford added four assists.

Williams finished with 18 points and Kailahi added 12. Ziya Simms and Janaya Washington chipped in nine and seven points, respectively.

The Blue Dragons shot 47.8 percent overall (23 of 48) for the game, hitting 25 of 32 from the free-throw line. The Blue Dragons were out-rebounded 32-28.

Devin Wright led Coffeyville with 13 points. Kennady Roach had 10 points. The Ravens shot 34.0 percent (18 of 53), going 5 of 17 from 3-point range and 19 of 24 from the free-throw line. The Red Ravens committed 15 turnovers.

A 3-pointer by Williams with 1:49 to play in the first quarter gave the Blue Dragons a 19-12 lead. Coffeyville then scored six unanswered points to pull within 19-18 with 17 seconds left, but two Kailahi free throws with 4 seconds left gave Hutchinson a 21-18 lead after the opening quarter.

Hutchinson led 25-22 with 8 minutes remaining in the second quarter. Within a 12-second span, Alford started Hutchinson's decisive scoring run with a free throw and 3-point bucket for a 19-22 lead. Leading 33-26 with 2:01 to play in the half, the Blue Dragons got back-to-back 3-pointers from Payne and Williams and two Alford free throws to close the quarter on an 8-0 run and lead 41-26 at halftime.

Coffeyville never got closer than 13 points in the second half. The Dragons had three 17-point leads in the quarter and led 56-39 after three periods.

The Blue Dragons left no doubt in the fourth quarter with an early 1202 run that turned an 18-point lead into a 28-point margin. Williams' transition layup with 6 minutes remaining gave the Blue Dragons a 73-45 lead.

GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons now have 30 20-win seasons in their 48-year history. … The Blue Dragons are 16-13 all-time against Coffeyville. … Tor'e Alford moved past Sherry Dishman and Kirea Rogers into 12th place on the Blue Dragon career scoring list with 886 points. … This was Mya Williams' third game this season with four or more 3-pointers. … This was Hutchinson's third-straight game and seventh game this season with 10 or more 3-pointers. Hutchinson has six-consecutive games of nine or more 3-pointers. … Now with 193 3-pointers this season, the 2022 Blue Dragons are eighth on the all-time team season list.