Hutchinson CC Sports Information

GREAT BEND – After shaking off eight days of rust, the No. 13-ranked Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team got things rolling on Friday against Murray State College in the opening game of the Best Western/Cougar Booster Club Classic at the Barton Gym.

Freshman Makayla Vannett had a big first half and sophomore Dejanae Roebuck scored a season-high 22 points as Hutch shot better than 50 percent for a second-straight game and defeated Murray State 88-65.

The Blue Dragons improve to 2-0 and will play No. 20 NEO at 1 p.m. on Saturday in Great Bend. Murray State falls to 1-2.

Roebuck hit 9 of 14 total shots, including a 3-pointer, to lead three Blue Dragons in double figures on Friday. Roebuck added five rebounds, three steals, two blocked shots and two assists.

Vannett scored 13 of her season-high 16 points in the first 20 minutes as Hutch rally from an early four-point deficit to lead 22-15 after one quarter and 46-26 at halftime. Vannett was 6 of 7 shooting and hit a pair of 3-pointers.

Sophomore Jada Mickens, who sat most of the first half with two early fouls, scored 10 points in the second half, pulling down seven rebounds.

The Blue Dragons hit 35 of 68 total shots (51.5 percent), making 5 of 18 3-pointers and going 13 of 23 from the free-throw line. The Dragons held a 44-29 rebounding advantage.

Tijuana Kimbro and Keeley Tini had eight points each. Lauryn Mapusua had six points.

Defensively, the Dragons held Murray State to 38.3 percent from the floor (18 of 47); the Aggies shot 57.1 percent from the floor in the second half and were a perfect 5 of 5 from distance. Murray State was 23 of 32 from the foul line. The Aggie turned the ball over 21 times.

Aaliyah Endsley and Hannah Wade had 13 points each to lead Murray State. Toni Greene and Maddie Jessepe had 12 points each.

The Blue Dragons are now 5-1 all-time against Murray State and have won five games in row over the Aggies.