Hutchinson CC Sports Information
GREAT BEND – The No. 5-ranked Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team suffered through a cold-shooting afternoon and had to rally from an early nine-point deficit to finish the non-conference portion of the schedule undefeated on Saturday.
The Blue Dragons shot a frigid 31.3 percent, but held on for a 64-56 victory over the Redlands Cougars in the final game of the Cougar Booster Club Classic at the Barton Gym.
Hutchinson improved to 6-0 and will open Jayhawk Conference play on Wednesday with a 5:30 p.m. matchup against Independence at the Sports Arena. The Cougars fell to 1-3.
Freshman Monae Duffy led the Blue Dragons with a team-high 14 points on 6 of 8 shooting with a 3-pointer. Duffy just missed a double-double collecting nine rebounds, Duffy added two steals and a blocked shot.
Sophomore Mya Williams had an off day shooting, but still scored 12 points on 7 of 8 free-throw shooting.
Sophomore Kali Howard did post a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. This was Howard's third double-double of the season.
Freshman Journey Armstead had eight points.
The Blue Dragons shot a season-low 31.3 percent (20 of 64), going 6 of 25 from 3-point range and 18 of 24 from the free-throw line. The Dragons out-rebounded Redlands 44-37, grabbing a season-high 21 offensive rebounds. The Dragons committed 13 turnovers.
Brooklyn Haywood had 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead Redlands. The Cougars shot 38.9 percent (21 of 54), hitting 9 of 24 from distance and 7 of 14 from the free-throw line. Redlands had 20 turnovers.
Redlands used a 15-3 run to give the Blue Dragons their largest deficit this season of nine points. Kate Niehues' three-point play gave the Cougars a 15-6 lead with 4:40 to play in the first quarter. Still trailing 21-14, the Blue Dragons closed the opening quarter on an 8-0 run, which was capped by a Howard three-point play for a 22-21 lead after the opening quarter.
The run went to 10-0 when Duffy scored on Hutchinson's first possession of the second quarter for a 24-21 lead. That turned out to be the final Dragon field goal for the next 8:21. The lead changed hands twice during that span. Trailing 28-27, Williams hit four-straight free throws for a 31-28 lead. Then leading 31-29, the Dragons closed the half with a Duffy 3-pointer from the left corner and a Howard buzzer-beater for a 36-29 halftime lead.
Hutchinson built a short-lived 10-point lead after a Duffy layup with 8:56 to play gave the Dragons a 40-30 lead. Haywood scored 11 points in the third quarter alone to keep Redlands close. Two Armstead free throws with 1:11 left gave the Dragons a 53-45 lead after three quarters.
Williams hit her only 3-pointer of the game with 6:24 to play in the fourth quarter to give the Dragons a 58-50 lead. An Armstead layup with 5:09 left gave the Dragons a 60-53 lead, but Hutchinson never shook off the Cougars. Macy Moore hit a baseline jumper with 2:09 left to cut the Dragon lead to 60-58. The Dragons got three key defensive stops down the stretch. Natalie Payne hit two crucial free throws with 21.1 seconds left and Howard scored on a breakaway layup to complete the victory.
GAME NOTES – This is the 11th time the Blue Dragons have started 6-0 under head coach John Ontjes. … The Dragons are now 2-1 all-time against Redlands. …