Hutchinson CC Sports Information
The top-ranked Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team turned in a total defensive performance in its opening game of the BSN Sports Tip-Off Classic on Friday night at the Sports Arena.
The Blue Dragons limited the Tabor College Junior Varsity to two points each in two quarters and limited the Bluejays to 22.2 percent shooting in a 68-23 victory.
Hutchinson (3-0) will now play Murray State at 5:30 p.m. Saturday in its classic finale.
The Blue Dragons extended their program-best winning streak to 40 games and tied for the seventh-longest home winning streak in team history of 19 games.
The 23 points allowed is the 14th fewest points allowed in Blue Dragon history.
Hutchinson's defense held Tabor to 10 of 45 overall shooting and just 3 of 15 from 3-point range. For the third-straight game, the Blue Dragons forced 25 or more turnovers, forcing 29 Bluejay miscues that led to a 29-2 scoring advantage in points off turnovers.
The Dragons had 21 steals with four steals each from Madi Denison, Kahlen Norris and Dylan Alexander.
Sophomore Landon Forbes led the Blue Dragons with a game-high 16 points on 7 of 12 shooting. Forbes had three steals.
Sophomore Brynne Katcher came off the bench to score 13 points as the only other Blue Dragon to score in double figures.
Katie Duncan had nine points, followed by Denison and Jaden Wilson with six points each.
The Blue Dragons were 26 of 63 shooting (41.3 percent) and had a season-low two 3-pointers on 12 attempts. The Dragons were 14 of 19 from the free-throw line. Hutchinson out-rebounded Tabor 44-29. The Dragons had 13 turnovers.
Ellie KcKellips had six points to lead Tabor.
The Blue Dragons held Tabor scoreless for the first 6 minutes, 45 seconds of the game, but let only 10-2 after one quarter. Hutchinson held Tabor to 1 of 10 shooting in the opening quarter.
The Dragons led 30-14 at halftime and upped that lead to 52-21 after three quarters.
Hutchinson's defense held Tabor to just two points in the fourth quarter on 1 of 11 shooting. The Dragons held the Bluejays scoreless for the final 8:24 of the game.
GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons are now 5-0 all-time in the BSN Sports Tip-Off Classic. … The Dragons are 12-1 all-time against the Tabor JV. … Madi Denison had a team-high seven rebounds for the Dragons. … Head coach John Ontjes picked up win No. 486.