Hutchinson CC Sports Information

Eight days removed from an impressive season-opening victory, the No. 13-ranked Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team returns to the court with a pair of tough games this weekend in Great Bend.

Hutchinson (1-0) takes on Murray State (1-1) at 1 p.m. on Friday at the Best Western Angus Inn-Cougar Booster Club Basketball Classic at the Barton Gym in Great Bend.

The Blue Dragons then have a nationally ranked matchup on Saturday against No. 20 NEO (2-0), also at 1 p.m. These are games 2 and 3 of a four-game road trip.

Both games will be streamed live on the Blue Dragon Sports Network at 12:50 p.m. each day. Steve Carpenter will call the action on Friday and Glen Grunwald will be on the mic Saturday.

Eight days ago on Opening night, the Blue Dragons jumped out to a 25-point lead after one quarter and rolled past the Bethany College JV 107-32.

Four players scored in double figures led by freshman Milan Schimmel's 19 points on 9 of 10 shooting as the Blue Dragons shot 53.8 percent from the floor. Defensively, Hutchinson forced 35 turnovers with 25 from steals. Bethany was held to 10 total field goals and 27.8 percent shooting.

Hutchinson and Murray State meet for the sixth time, the first since 2015. The Blue Dragons own a 4-1 overall record against the Aggies, winning four-straight games.

Murray State opened the season with 104-59 win over Mid-America Christian, but dropped a 67-41 decision to Collin County on Tuesday.

The Aggies are averaging 72.5 points offensively, shooting 39.0 percent overall and 22.8 percent from 3-point range. Defensively, Murray State is allowing 63.0 points, 36.0 percent from the field and 31.1 percent from 3-point range. Murray State is a plus 16.5 in rebounding margin.

Sophomore Toni Green is the leading scorer at 15.5 points per game. Jordan Duke averages 10.0 points per game.

Saturday's matchup vs. NEO will be the fifth meeting all-time with the Dragons opening a 3-1 series lead. The last meeting came in 2015. The Blue Dragons won 65-61, rallying from 16 points down to win.

The Lady Norse have one victory over a Jayhawk Conference opponent this season defeating border rival Coffeyville 67-50 on Tuesday. NEO opened the season with an 81-40 win over the Oklahoma Wesleyan JV on Monday.

NEO is scoring 74.0 points per game while shooting 43.7 percent overall and 28.3 percent from 3-point range with 6.5 made 3s a game. Defensively, the Norse allows 45.0 points, 27.5 percent shooting and 17.6 percent from distance.

Sophomore Bethy Mununga is averaging 16.5 points per game while Jo'Nah Johnson is averaging 13.5 points. Mununga is shooting 75 percent from the floor through two games.