NO. 20 BLUE DRAGONS PULL AWAY, PUT AWAY TIGERS

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

Five players scored in double figures to lead the Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team to a 15th-straight victory over Fort Hays Tech Northwest on Saturday at the Sports Arena.

The 20th-ranked Blue Dragons' balanced offensive attack keyed a 77-55 Jayhawk Conference victory over the Tigers.

Hutchinson improved to 14-4 overall and 9-3 in the KJCCC. The Blue Dragons open the second half of league play at Garden City at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Fort Hays Tech Northwest lost its 30th-straight game, falling to 0-18 overall and 0-12 in the KJCCC.

The Blue Dragons had five players reach double figures in scoring for the second time this season, last doing so on October 31 against Southeast Community College in Sedalia, Missouri.

Freshman KaMyra Barber scored a team-high 14 points on 5 of 12 shooting. Barber also had eight rebounds, a career-high seven assists and three steals to lead the Blue Dragons.

Sophomore Katie Duncan went 3 of 7 from 3-point range and finished with 13 points. Freshman Whitney Brown also had 13 points. Sophomore Noelle Anthon had 11 points on 5 of 10 shooting with nine rebounds. Sophomore Jaden Wilson scored a season-high 10 points and six rebounds.

The Blue Dragons shot 42.9 percent for the game (27 of 63), going 6 of 24 from 3-point range and 17 of 21 from the free-throw line. The Dragons out-rebounded the Tigers 46-30, including a season-high 21 offensive rebounds. The Dragons did commit 21 turnovers.

Fati Fall had 16 points to lead Fort Hays Tech Northwest. Vitoria Fernandes had 10 points.

The Tigers shot 42.1 percent (24 of 57), going 4 of 16 from distance and 3 of 11 from the foul line. The Tigers had 22 turnovers.

Hutchinson bettered its 13-0 start to the game on Wednesday at Pratt with a 14-0 start over the first 5:16 against Fort Hays Tech Northwest. But the Tigers answered that initial run with a 9-3 run to close the quarter as Hutchinson went scoreless for the final 4:13 of the quarter. Still the Dragons led 17-9 going to the second period.

The Dragons pushed the lead back to double figures at 26-15 after a Barber field goal with 2:57 to go in the first half. The Tigers pulled within 28-22 with 1:18 remaining, but the Dragons got a Barber field goal, two Wilson free throws and a Wilson putback at the buzzer to close the half on a 6-0 run to lead 34-22 at halftime.

The Blue Dragons scored a season-high-tying 28 points in the third quarter, outscoring the Tigers 28-15. Anthon scored with 7:02 to go in the quarter to cap a 6-0 Hutchinson run for a 42-26 lead. The run grew to 12-1 for a 48-28 lead after two Brown free throws. Leading 54-35, the Dragons had an 8-0 run capped by a Duncan 3-pointer to lead 62-35 with 12 seconds to play in the quarter. The Dragons led 62-37 after three quarters.

The Dragons reached their largest lead of the game at 30 after a Tayla Galucho 3-pointer with 6:25 to play in the fourth quarter.

GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons are now 16-1 all-time vs. Fort Hays Tech Northwest, including 9-1 in the Sports Arena. … This was all-time win No. 1,155. … This was Hutchinson's seventh game of 20 or more assists. … This is the ninth game this season the Blue Dragons forced 20 or more turnovers. … Sophomore Jamya McPherson tied a season high with four rebounds. … Jason Wilson tied a career high with four free throws.