WILLIAMS, PAYNE SIGN FOUR-YEAR LETTERS

Blue Dragon women's basketball sophomores Mya Williams (left) signed with Georgia State and Natalie Payne (right) signed with East Central University on Tuesday at the Sports Arena. (Steve Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)

May 2, 2023

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

Two members of the Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team signed letters of intent for next season on Tuesday at the Sports Arena.

Two-time All-KJCCC performer and 2022 NJCAA All-American Mya Williams has signed with Georgia State and sophomore Natalie Payne has signed with East Central University in Oklahoma.

Williams and Payne were part of 52 victories, one league title, one Region VI championship and one NJCAA Tournament berth.

With the signing of Williams and Payne, Blue Dragon women's head coach John Ontjes' program has now produced 59 players who have moved onto four-year programs.

MYA WILLIAMS
Williams closed out a stellar Blue Dragon career as the program's second all-time leading scorer with 1,163 points.

This season, the sophomore guard from Waxahachie, Texas, was the Blue Dragons' top scorer and fifth-leading scorer in the Jayhawk Conference at 16.6 points per game. She shot 40.7 percent overall and 33.0 percent from 3-point range (69 of 209). Her 85.7 percent mark from the free-throw line was third-highest in the KJCCC this season.

Williams scored in double figures in 28 of 31 games played this season, reaching the 20-point plateau in 13 games.

Williams had a season high of 28 points against Independence on January 14. She had four or more 3-pointers in five games.

For her Blue Dragon career, Williams set a Blue Dragon career scoring average record of 17.6 points per game. Her 375 made field goals rank sixth most in team history. Her 151 3-pointers are sixth most, her 262 free throws are fourth most and her 83.4 percent career efficiency mark at the free-throw line ranks eighth-best in team history.

Last season, Williams was a first-team All-American, KJCCC co-MVP, KJCCC Freshman of the Year and first-team all-league/all-region selection. Williams set the Blue Dragon freshman scoring record with 648 points.

NATALIE PAYNE
The 5-10 sophomore from Lenexa, Kansas, was asked to play out of position in the post from Day 1 as a Blue Dragons and wound up being a huge contributor for the Dragons.

Payne played in 66 games for the Blue Dragons and averaged 4.4 points and 3.9 rebounds while shooting 45.5 percent from the floor. She scored 290 career points and had 255 career rebounds in her Blue Dragon career.

Payne had a career-high 19 points against Barton on January 26, 2022 and a career-high eight rebounds twice in her Blue Dragon career.

Payne's next stop at East Central University will have a Blue Dragon feel to it as former All-American and Blue Dragon Quarterback Club Hall of Fame member Heather (Robben) Hurt is that program's head coach. Former Blue Dragon Kate Ogle is on the East Central roster as well.