Blue Dragon Sports Information

The Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team goes after a program milestone victory, extend a nine-game winning streak and at the same time protect first place in the Jayhawk West.

The No. 6-ranked Blue Dragons (23-2, 15-1 Jayhawk West) play host to the Pratt Beavers at 5:30 p.m. on Monday night at the Sports Arena.

The game will be broadcast live on Blue Dragon flagship station KHUT-FM (102.9) and on sister stations KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5) beginning at 5:20 p.m. with Steve Carpenter (play by play) and Dan Naccarato (color) calling the action. The game will also be streamed on the Blue Dragon Sports Network beginning at 5:20 p.m.

Hutchinson makes its first attempt at at all-time victory No. 1,000. Hutch is 999-383 in its 46th year of women's basketball.

After Saturday's 103-61 home victory over Garden City, the Blue Dragons found out later Saturday that Pratt and upset No. 12 Seward County 58-54. The combination of those two games put Hutchinson in sole possession of first place in the Jayhawk West with five games to play.

Brooklyn Betham scored a career-high 26 points and Makayla Vannett added 24 points on five 3-pointers in Hutchinson's victory over Garden City on Saturday. The Blue Dragons shot 58.3 percent, hitting 12 of their first 17 shots in racing out to a 31-15 lead after the first quarter and a 54-27 lead by halftime.

Pratt played one of its best defensive games of the season in holding Seward County to 25.9 percent shooting. The Beavers led 45-34 after three quarters and had to hold on. Rachel Tippins had 12 points to lead the Beavers.

The Blue Dragons defeated Pratt 74-44 in the first meeting of the season on January 18 in Pratt. The Dragons led 33-15 at halftime and held Pratt to 24.2 percent shooting for the game. Sophomore Lauryn Mapusua had a career-high 21 points with nine rebounds to lead the Blue Dragons against the Beavers. Abby Ogle added 20 points with seven rebounds and six assists. Rylee Alexander had 11 points to lead the Beavers.

The Nos. 1 and 2 defensive teams in the Jayhawk Conference will do battle. Hutchinson is No. 1 in the league and No. 4 in the NJCAA in scoring defense at 50.9 points per game. The Dragons are allowing 30.6 percent overall shooting and 24.5 percent from 3-point range. Pratt allows 57.8 points per game. Opposing teams are shooting 37.1 percent overall and 30.4 percent from distance.

Monday's meeting will be the 91st in series history between Hutchinson and Pratt. The Blue Dragons own a 79-11 all-time series lead over Pratt.