BLUE DRAGONS IN TOP 5 OF WEEK 1 NJCAA RANKINGS

Blue Dragons sophomore Morgan Browning dives for a loose ball in the opening-night win over Bethany College JV Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022 at the Hutchinson Sports Arena. (Andrew Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)

November 7, 2022

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

NJCAA DIVISON I WOMEN'S BASKETBALL RANKINGS

After a dominant opening week, the Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team is in the top 5 in the first NJCAA Division I national rankings.

The Blue Dragons came in at No. 5 in the first week of the national poll, which was released Monday. The Blue Dragons are 3-0 to start the season.

The last time the Blue Dragon women were ranked in the top 5 was back in February 2020 when they were No. 5.

Hutchinson went 2-0 in its BSN Sports Tipoff Classic with sophomore Mya Williams guiding the Blue Dragons to an 84-48 win over Mineral Area behind her game-high 21 points as well as the team shooting nearly 50 percent from the floor. The Blue Dragons closed out the opening weekend with an 84-61 romp over Northeastern Oklahoma where freshman Journey Armstead posted 14 points and seven assists. Three players scored in double figures – Williams with 21 points and sophomore Kali Howard with 18.

The Blue Dragons also posted an 88-44 win over Bethany College JV.

Trinity Valley is No. 1 in the rankings with preseason No. 1 Tyler falling to No. 21 and former No. 2 Shelton State dropping to 23. Northwest Florida State is No. 2, Blinn is No. 3, and South Plains is No. 4. Other Jayhawk conference teams ranked are Barton at No. 18, and Dodge City received votes.

This weekend, John Ontjes' group heads to Great Bend for the two-day Cougar Booster Club Classic where the Blue Dragons will play Labette at 1 p.m. Friday and Redlands at 1 p.m. Saturday.