Hutchinson CC Sports Information

Freshman Mya Williams had a huge first half to help the No. 21-ranked Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team recover from an early deficit and defeat Mineral Area College on Friday at the BSN Sports Tipoff Classic at the Sports Arena.

Williams scored a season-high 24 points to lead the Blue Dragons to a 75-66 victory over the Cardinals.

The Blue Dragons improved to 2-0 as head coach John Ontjes inched closer to the career 400-win mark with victory No. 396. Hutchinson will conclude the BSN Sports Classic with NEO at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. Mineral Area (1-1), which made its Sports Arena debut, takes on Barton at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Barton defeated NEO 60-59 on Friday.

Hutchinson had early difficulties solving Mineral Area's aggressive halfcourt defense early in the game, falling behind 14-6 on a Gracee Smith 3-pointer with 3:05 to play in the opening quarter. Williams hit a 3-pointer and Janaya Washington added a 3-pointer and a pull-up 2-pointer to pull within 16-14 with 37 seconds to play in the period. Mineral Area led 18-14 after one quarter.

Williams then put the Blue Dragons on her back with 12 points in the second quarter.

Trailing for the first 16 minutes, 25 seconds of the game, Williams' two free throws with 3:35 to play tied and gave Hutchinson its first lead. That lead changed hands four more times in the latter stages of the second quarter. Trailing 36-35, Williams created the fifth lead change of the game with a jump shot with 25 seconds remaining. After a defensive stop, Williams beat the buzzer for a long 2-pointer to complete an 18-point first half and give the Blue Dragons a 39-36 halftime lead.

Williams led the Blue Dragons, going 7 of 13 overall from the floor, including 2 of 6 from 3-point range. She was also 8 of 12 from the free-throw line. Williams did her damage in 26 minutes of playing time. She fouled out of the game with 9:06 to play in the fourth quarter and Hutchinson leading 57-48.

The Blue Dragons were 22 of 55 from the field (40.0 percent) for the game, going 7 of 21 from 3-point range and 24 of 34 from the free-throw line. The Blue Dragons were out-rebounded 35-28.

Sophomore Tor'e Alford was the only other Blue Dragon to score in double figures with 12 points, scoring 10 points in the second half. Alford added five free throws and four assists.

Freshman Natalie Payne had nine points. Washington was a spark off the bench in the first half, finishing with eight points. Kali Howard also had eight points.

The Blue Dragons allowed Mineral Area to shoot 60 percent in the first half, but turned the game around anyway by forcing 15 of the Cardinals' 26 turnovers in the first two quarters. The Blue Dragons outscored Mineral Area 28-10 in points off turnovers.

Nijah Moore had 14 points to lead Mineral Area on Friday. Raissa Nsabua had 11 points. Mariah Stewart finished with a double-double, 10 points and 14 rebounds. Yasmine Pankey had 10 points.

Mineral Area finished the game shooting 40 percent for the game (20 of 50) and only 26.7 percent in the second half. The Cardinals were 6 of 19 from 3-point range, 1 of 11 in the second half. Mineral Area was 20 of 26 from the free-throw line.

GAME NOTES – This was only the second meeting ever between Hutchinson and Mineral Area, the first at the Sports Arena. The first meeting was a 51-39 Hutchinson win in 2006 in Park Hills, Missouri. … The Blue Dragons had 14 assists on 22 made baskets. … There were 55 combined fouls. Mineral Area had four players foul out. Mya Williams was the only player to foul out for the Blue Dragons.