DRAGONS DOWN DODGE IN LOW-SCORING BATTLE

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

The Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team had an offensive grind on Wednesday night against Dodge City.

But the No. 10-ranked Blue Dragons found enough offense, combined with a stellar defensive effort, to earn a 59-31 victory over the Conquistadors for their fourth-straight victory.

The 26-1 Blue Dragons remained in a first-place tie with Seward County at 17-1 in the Jayhawk West. With three games remaining, the Dragons will close out at Colby, at home with Barton and at Seward County. Dodge City dropped its fourth in a row and is 13-14 overall and 8-10 in league play.

The victory moved Blue Dragon head coach John Ontjes into sole possession of fifth place on both the Jayhawk Conference and Region VI all-time coaching wins list. He broke a tie with Darin Spence with his 340th victory.

Hutchinson scored the first seven points of the game and held Dodge City scoreless for 4 1/2 minutes to start the game. The Conquistadors got as close as four points, but the Blue Dragons closed the first quarter on an 8-2 run to lead 16-6 after one quarter.

Hutchinson's lead never dipped into single digits again.

The Dragons never felt comfortable hitting only 7 of 27 shots in the middle two quarters and committing 19 turnovers for the game. The Dragons cast only 19 shot attempts in the first half, making nine.

While the offense misfired, the defense was its usually staunch self. Hutch held Dodge City to a season-low 31 points, allowing a conference-season low 11 points in the first half. The Conquistadors were 5 of 22 shooting in the opening half, but the Blue Dragons led only 25-11 at intermission. For the game, the Blue Dragons held Dodge to single digit scoring in the first three quarters, allowing only 18 points through three periods.

The 31 points allowed were the second-fewest Dodge City has scored against Hutchinson in series history.

Dodge City committed 23 turnovers and shot only 23.5 percent for the game (10 of 43). Dodge was just 1 of 14 from 3-point range and 10 of 14 from the free-throw line.

Sophomore Jada Mickens led the Blue Dragons with 15 points, hitting a pair of 3-pointers, and seven rebounds.

Sophomore Dejanae Roebuck had 12 points and six rebounds with a career high six steals.

Freshman Makayla Vannett hit 3 of 6 from 3-point range to score nine points with four rebounds, three assists and two steals. Freshman Abby Ogle had eight points and five assists.

The Blue Dragons were 17 of 41 shooting (41.5 percent) in their second-lowest offensive output of the season. Hutch was 7 of 16 from 3-point range and 18 of 22 from the free-throw line. The Dragons outrebounded Dodge City, 34-24.

Hutchinson travels to Colby for a 3 p.m. game on Saturday.

GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons are now 68-27 all-time vs. Dodge City, including 33-13 at the Sports Arena. … This was the third-straight game to hold Dodge City to less than 40 points. … Dejanae Roebuck moved up two spots to No. 13 on the Blue Dragon career scoring list with 878 points and up to sixth place on the career rebounds list with 520. … Jada Mickens moved up to No. 15 on the career rebounds list with 451. … This was the 13th time this season Hutch has held an opponent to less than 30 percent shooting and the seventh time it has held an opponent to less than 40 points.