Hutchinson CC Sports Information

Back in the NJCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament for the first time since 2019, the No. 25-ranked Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team opens play in the 2022 edition at 10 a.m. on Thursday against Casper College at the Rip Griffin Center in Lubbock, Texas.

The Jayhawk Conference co-champion and Region VI Tournament champion Blue Dragons (18-5) earned the No. 19 overall seed for the 2022 tournament, the lowest seed since the NJCAA Tournament began seeding the women's field in 2013.

Led by KJCCC co=Player and Freshman of the Year Mya Williams and sophomore Kalyn Ervin, the Blue Dragons won their eighth Region VI Tournament championship on March 6, defeating Barton 82-66 in Salina. Williams and Ervin had 18 points each as Hutchinson shot just shy of 49 percent with nine 3-point goals.

Casper College (28-5) is the Region IX champion. The Thunderbirds are the No. 14 overall seed in the tournament and were ranked 15th in the final NJCAA regular-season rankings. Casper defeated Eastern Wyoming 71-57 in the Region IX Tournament championship game on March 5.

This will be the second-straight NJCAA Tournament that the Blue Dragons will open with a Region IX opponent. Hutchinson defeated Western Nebraska in the opening round of the 2019 NJCAA Tournament en route to a national semifinal appearance.

The Blue Dragons are 19-11 all-time in NJCAA Tournament history, including 4-2 in the opening round. Hutchinson has made six appearances in the national semifinals and have played in three national championship games in 2012, 2014 and 2015.

Hutchinson and Casper have played only twice before this NJCAA Tournament matchup, both on neutral floors. Casper won the first game 70-46 in 1996. Hutchinson won the 2004 rematch with the Thunderbirds, 72-58.

The Hutchinson-Casper winner will play third-seeded Georgia Highlands in the second round on Friday at 5 p.m.