COLD SHOOTING DOOMS DRAGONS AGAINST NO. 11 DODGE CITY

Leata Te Nana Williams and the Blue Dragon women's basketball team fell to No. 11 Dodge City 69-35 on Saturday at the Sports Arena. (Andrew Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)

February 11, 2023

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

After building a three-point lead through the first quarter against No. 11 Dodge City, the Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team went ice cold on Saturday night.

The Dragons were held to 23 percent shooting and 21 points over the final three quarters as first-place Dodge City defeated Hutchinson 69-35 in a Jayhawk Conference matchup at the Sports Arena.

The Blue Dragons are now 19-4 overall and 13-7 in the KJCCC, remaining in fourth place. The Blue Dragons travel to Colby on Wednesday. Dodge City won its 16th consecutive game and is now 23-2 overall and 18-1 in the Jayhawk Conference.

Hutchinson led 14-11 after the first quarter, but were outscored by the Conquistadors 58-21 from that point. The Blue Dragons were held to a season-low offensive output and four assists. Hutchinson's 27.5 percent overall shooting was the second-lowest output of the season.

No Blue Dragon scored in double figures. Sophomore Morgan Browning led Hutchinson with nine points. Journey Armstead and Natalie Payne scored six points each and Mya Williams was limited to five points.

Hutchinson was held to 14 of 51 overall shooting, including 3 of 20 from 3-point range and 4 of 8 from the free-throw line. The Dragons did out-rebound Dodge City 35-31, but committed a season-high 28 turnovers.

Dodge City shot 47.2 percent for the game (25 of 53), hitting 5 of 11 from 3-point range and 14 of 16 from the foul line. Dodge City had 18 turnovers.

Jada Burton scored a game-high 16 points to lead Dodge City. Georgia Gray had 14 points and Jenna Rose Mafua had 13 points.

There were three lead changes and two ties in the first 10 minutes. Payne hit a 3-pointer with 6:51 to play in the period to give Hutchinson an 8-4 lead. Dodge City then went on a 7-2 run to take an 11-10 lead after a Gray three-point play with 1:27 to play. Williams hit a field goal and Kali Howard added two free throws to give the Blue Dragons a 14-11 lead after the first quarter.

Dodge City hit four early free throws in the second quarter to take a 15-14 lead. Payne grabbed the lead right back with her second 3-pointer of the game for 17-15 lead with 7:36 to play in the quarter. Shakara Anderson answered with a 3-pointer on Dodge City's next possession to give Dodge City the lead for good. Browning hit a 3-pointer with 6:17 to play to pull the Dragons within 21-20, but Dodge City outscored Hutchinson 15-4 over the remainder of the quarter, scoring the final seven points of the quarter to lead 35-24 at halftime.

Dodge City extended their lead to 23 points by scoring the first 12 points of the third quarter to build a 47-26 lead with 6:35 to go. A Monae Duffy jumper capped a 7-0 Dragon run to pull within 51-33 with 1:36 to go. Dodge City scored the final seven points of the third quarter and the first 11 points of the fourth quarter to lead 69-33 with 2:55 to play in the fourth quarter.

GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons are now 74-30 all-time against Dodge City, which earned its first season sweep in the series since 2006. … Mya Williams tied Jamie Patrick for second place on the career Blue Dragon scoring list with 1,098 points. … The 34-point loss to Dodge City was the largest in series history. … The 35 points scored are the second fewest in series history and tied for the eighth fewest in program history. … The Dragons are now 12-2 at the Sports Arena this season.