Hutchinson CC Sports Information
WICHITA – The Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team's 13th consecutive appearance in the Region VI Tournament semifinals was definitely an unlucky one on Friday.
Just one game after hitting a school-record 18 3-pointers in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, the Blue Dragon' offense struggled and Independence took advantage in a 75-56 semifinal win over the Blue Dragons and Friends University's Garvey Center.
Now the No. 20-ranked Blue Dragons will have to wait to see if their 19-5 overall record will be enough to receive one of the eight at-large bids to the NJCAA National Tournament in Lubbock. The NJCAA Selection Show is at 4 p.m. on Sunday on NJCAATV.com.
Independence (19-6) will play Barton for the Region VI championship on Saturday in Wichita.
The Blue Dragons started well jumping out to a 9-2 lead after a Nafatoumata basket with 5:25 to play in the first quarter.
After that point, the Blue Dragon offense went cold.
Lojong Gore scored to stop a 7-0 Pirate run for a 9-7 lead. The Pirates closed the quarter on a 9-3 run to lead 16-12 after one period. The Dragons missed 13 of their final 15 shot attempts in the first quarter.
That trend continued through the second and third quarters. The Dragons were 2 of 13 shooting in the second period and trailed 33-19 at halftime, the 19 points tied a season low for points in a first half.
Independence then put the foot on the gas and put the game out of reach in the third quarter, outscoring the Blue Dragons 24-13 in the third quarter. Independence hit 9 of 16 shot in the third quarter, including three 3-pointers. The Dragons were 4 of 12 in the third stanza and trailed 57-32 heading into the fourth quarter.
Hutchinson's 56-point output tied for the third lowest of the season. The Dragons shot only 30.5 percent (18 of 59) for the game, which was the second-lowest shot percentage of the season.
Sophomore Tor'e Alford scored 16 of her team-high 17 points in the second half. Alford was the only Blue Dragon to score in double figures on Friday.
Kalyn Ervin, K.K. Adams and Ishante Suttington finished with nine points each. Gore had eight points and 10 rebounds.
The Blue Dragons hit 8 of 30 3-point attempts and 12 of 20 from the free-throw line. The Dragons committed 19 turnovers and were out-rebounded 45-38.
Maisa Marcal had eight points to lead the Pirates, hitting 4 of 8 3-pointers. Delani Harris had 12 points and Miriam Bazylewicz had 11.
The Pirates shot 41.3 percent from the floor (26 of 63), going 8 of 23 from distanced and 15 of 20 from the free-throw line.
GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons are now 63-37 all-time in the Region VI Tournament and are now 9-10 in the semifinal round. … Hutchinson is 10-7 against Independence all-time in Region VI Tournament games and are 36-14 all-time against the Pirates.