DRAGONS ROLL BY PIRATES FOR CONFERENCE ROAD WIN

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

INDEPENDENCE – The No. 20-ranked Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team posted hits largest margin of victory as the Blue Dragons rallied from their first KJCCC loss of the season.

Sophomore Katie Duncan posted her second career 20-point game while freshman Whitney Brown achieved her first career double-double as the Blue Dragons rolled to an 83-46 victory over the Independence Pirates on Tuesday at the Oakes Family Fieldhouse.

The Blue Dragons (7-2, 2-1 KJCCC) will play host to Seward County on Saturday at the Sports Arena. Independence is now 3-6 and 0-3 in the KJCCC. The Blue Dragons won their eighth-straight game over Independence.

Duncan hit three 3-point goals to lead the Blue Dragons with a game-high 21 points. Duncan added five rebounds, five steals and three assists.

Brown had 16 points and a season-high 10 rebounds. She also had a season-high five steals. Brown was the first Blue Dragon to have 10 assists in a single game since Journey Armstead against Seward County on February 24, 2024.

Sophomore Noelle Anthon just missed a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds. Sophomore Dylan Alexander had 11 points, four rebounds and three steals. Freshman Kaia Smith had six points and five rebounds.

The Blue Dragons shot 45.7 percent from the field (32 of 70), hitting 7 of 23 from 3-point range and 12 of 15 from the free-throw line. The Blue Dragons out-rebounded Independence 47-30. The Dragons had 19 assists and 17 steals.

Independence shot 29.4 percent (15 of 51), hitting 7 of 16 from 3-point range and 9 of 17 from the foul line. The Pirates had 27 turnovers.

Mimi White had 11 points and Nyah Chandler had 10 points to lead the Pirates.

Independence hit three early 3-pointers to lead the Blue Dragons 13-10 with 4:17 to play in the first quarter. The Blue Dragons answered that challenge with a 13-0 run to close the quarter for a 23-13 lead after 10 minutes. The Dragons made it a 17-0 run to lead 27-13 after a Smith field goal with 8:13 to play in the second quarter.

Hutchinson held Independence without a field goal for 9 minutes, 5 seconds, outscoring the Pirates 24-1 over that stretch. The Dragons led 46-25 at halftime.

Hutchinson opened the third quarter with an 8-0 run for a 54-25 lead after a Duncan hoop with 6:32 to play in the period. Leading 67-36 after three quarters, the Dragons had a 16-0 run in the fourth quarter to lead 83-38 after an Anthon putback after an offensive rebounds with 4:03 to go in the game.

GAME NOTES – Blue Dragon head coach John Ontjes won his 299th Jayhawk Conference regular-season game. … The Dragons are now 44-15 against Independence in series history. … The 23 points in the first quarter tied a season high for the Dragons. … This was the sixth time this season the Dragons forced 20 or more turnovers. … This was the second time this season the Dragons have held an opponent to less than 30 percent shooting.