Hutchinson CC Sports Information

After receiving an opening-round bye, the No. 9-ranked Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team opens its 43rd Region VI Tournament on Saturday.

Hutchinson (27-3), the tournament's second overall seed will play the eighth-seed Cowley Tigers (20-11) in a quarterfinal matchup at 3 p.m. Saturday from United Wireless Arena in Dodge City.

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 2:50 p.m. with Steve Carpenter (play by play) and Daren Dunn (color) calling the action. The game will also be streamed on the KJCCC Network beginning at 2:55 p.m.

Before the Blue Dragons knew exactly who their opponent would be, they knew they would have an opportunity to avenge one of their two regular-season league losses on Saturday. Cowley played Dodge City on Wednesday and rallied to win 100-95.

The Blue Dragons were stunned on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Shontrice Austin in a 72-70 loss at Cowley on January 11. Abby Ogle hit a go-ahead shot with 1.4 seconds to play to go up 70-69. After Cowley advanced the ball following a timeout, Austin hit the game winner as the buzzer sounded.

Not in the lineup on that January night for the Blue Dragons was freshman guard Tor'e Alford. Over her last two games against Barton and Seward County, Alford has made 12 of 19 3-pointers and have averaged 21.5 points per game.

The Blue Dragons captured their 10th Jayhawk Conference championship in program history last Saturday with a 78-62 victory over Seward County, sweeping the season series with the Saints. The Dragons earned one of the two opening-round byes, along with Jayhawk East champion Butler.

The Blue Dragons will play in their 34th Region VI Tournament quarterfinal game. Hutchinson in 17-16 in the quarterfinal round. Hutchinson has won 11 consecutive quarterfinal games.

Hutchinson and Cowley meet for the 12th time in the Region VI Tournament in series history. The Dragons are 5-6 in the first 11 meetings with the Tigers. The last time the Blue Dragons and Tigers met in the preseason was the 2017 Region VI semifinals. The Dragons won 81-58.

The two teams met in the 2013 Region VI Championship game. Hutchinson won that game 70-46.