Hutchinson CC Sports Information
GREAT BEND – The Barton Cougars sank the second-most 3-point goals ever against the Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team Monday night.
The Cougars used 15 3-pointers to rally from an early 12-point deficit and defeat Hutchinson 77-58 in a Jayhawk West battle at the Barton Gym, snapping Hutch's six game win streak and sweeping the regular season series with the Blue Dragon for the first time since 2009.
Already with a tie for the Jayhawk West title in their pocket, the Blue Dragons' lead in the Jayhawk West with slips to one game over Seward County and Barton. The Blue Dragons dropped to 17-4 overall and 16-4 in the league. Barton is now 16-5 overall and 15-5- in the league. Hutchinson closes the regular season with Colby on Wednesday at the Sports Arena. Barton plays host to Dodge City and Seward County plays host to Pratt on Wednesday in the final game of the 2021 regular season.
Barton blitzed the Blue Dragons by hitting 15 of 26 shots from 3-point range. Those 15 treys are the most ever against a John Ontjes-coached Hutchinson team and the second most against Hutchinson in team history. Independence had 16 3-pointers in 1993 against the Blue Dragons.
Barton also is the first team this season to shoot better than 50 percent against the Blue Dragons, shooting 52.9 percent for the game (27 of 51).
Tiffany Dortland, one of the best 3-point shooters in the KJCCC, hit 5 of 7 3-pointers for the Cougars. Barton also got five 3-pointers from Gabby Flute Player and three from Queen Ulabo. Flute Player had just six 3-pointers all season and Ulabo was 1 for 18 from distance for the season entering Monday's game.
Kalyn Ervin came off the bench to lead the Blue Dragons with 14 points, hitting 3 of 7 from 3-point range. Lojong Gore was the other Blue Dragon to score in double figures with 12 points. Kate Ogle and Tor'e Alford had eight points each.
The Blue Dragons shot 37.3 percent overall (22 of 59), going 8 of 23 from 3-point range and 6 of 7 from the free-throw line. The Dragons had only 12 turnovers, but were out-rebounded 33-30.
Dortland had 21 points to lead the Cougars. Flute Player had 19 points. Vanessa Oduah had 12 points and Ulabo had 11 for Barton.
The Blue Dragons used four early 3-pointer to build a 20-8 lead with 2 minutes to play in the first quarter. Hutch led 21-12 after the first period and had a 23-12 lead after a Gore bucket with 9:03 to play in the second quarter.
The Cougars then went on a 20-0 run, holding the Blue Dragons scoreless for 7 minutes, 11 seconds. The Cougars hit four triples in that run and led 32-23 after an Ulabo 3-pointer with 3:31 remaining in the half. Cherrelle Newsom hit a 3-pointer with 1:52 to go to snap the Dragon drought. Hutchinson trailed 38-28 at halftime. Barton shot 59.1 percent in the first half.
Hutchinson started the second half with an 8-0 run to pull within 38-36 after an Ogle 3-pointer. Ervin hit a 3-pointer with 51 seconds to play in the period and Hutchinson trailed 52-49. Dortland answered with a 3-pointer on the next Barton possession. That sparked a 25-9 Cougar run to close the game.