BLUE DRAGONS ROLL TO SEVENTH-STRAIGHT VICTORY

Monae Duffy blocks a shot during 80-54 victory over NOC-Tonkawa on Tuesday at the Sports Arena. (Andrew Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)
Monae Duffy blocks a shot during 80-54 victory over NOC-Tonkawa on Tuesday at the Sports Arena. (Andrew Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

The No. 15-ranked Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team closed out the non-conference portion of the schedule and claimed its seventh-consecutive victory on Tuesday night at the Sports Arena.

The Blue Dragons shot better than 62 percent and scored a season-high 51 points in the first half as Hutchinson rolled to an 80-54 victory over Northern Oklahoma-Tonkawa.

Hutchinson improved to 7-0 with the victory. The Blue Dragons return to conference play on Saturday against Colby at 5:30 p.m. at the Sports Arena. NOC-Tonkawa dropped to 1-7.

Sophomore Journey Armstead hit 6 of 8 shots and led the Blue Dragons with a game-high 14 points. Armstead added four assists.

Freshman Hailey Jackson posted her second double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Jackson was 8 of 8 from the free-throw line, which was a season high. Jackson added two blocked shots.

Sophomore Monae Duffy just missed a double-double with 13 points and eight rebounds with two steals. Freshman Kiki Smith also scored in double figures with 10 points. Sophomore Peyton Mosley and Bree Horyna had nine points each. Mosley had a career-high five rebounds.

The Blue Dragons shot 47.6 percent (30 of 63) for the game, hitting 5 of 20 from 3-point range and 15 of 18 from the free-throw line. The Dragons out-rebounded Tonkawa 52-31.

Hutchinson held the Mavericks to 29.9 percent shooting (20 of 69). Tonkawa did hit 10 3-pointers in 28 attempts and was 4 of 6 from the free-throw line.

Brooke Richardson hit three 3-pointers and finished with 13 points. Kaydin Scott had 12 points.

Hutchinson led 19-9 after one quarter, hitting 8 of 14 shots in the opening 10 minutes.

The Dragons exploded in the second period, outscoring Tonkawa 32-10. Hutchinson made 10 of 15 shot attempts, while holding the Mavericks to 3 of 18 from the field. Duffy hit a transition layup to build a 26-11 lead with 8:16 to play. Leading 33-18, the Blue Dragons went on a 10-0 run over a span of 2 minutes, 10 seconds. An Armstead free throw with 1:37 left gave the Dragons a 43-19 lead.

Hutchinson outscored the Mavericks 18-1 over the final 3:43 to build a 51-19 lead at halftime.

GAME NOTES – Blue Dragons head coach John Ontjes is now 140-27 on the Hutchinson bench against non-KJCCC opponents. … The Blue Dragons are now 8-6 all-time against NOC-Tonkawa and have won three games in a row. … Freshman Akaysha Muggeridge had a career-best six assists. … This was the third game this season where the Dragons have allowed 10 or more 3-pointers. … This was the fifth time in seven games the Dragons have held an opponent to less than 30 percent shooting. … The 51 points scored in the first have were a season high. … Kiki Smith is the only Blue Dragon to score in double figures in all seven games this season.