NO. 11 BLUE DRAGONS ROLL BY COWLEY

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

Freshman Hailey Jackson poured in a career-high 26 points and the Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team turned in another impressive defensive performance as the No. 11 Blue Dragons rolled to their 12th-straight victory to start the 2023-24 season.

The Blue Dragons held their eighth opponent this season to less than 30 percent shooting as Hutchinson closed the first semester of play with a 72-47 victory over the Tigers at the Sports Arena.

Hutchinson is now 12-0 overall and 6-0 in the Jayhawk Conference. The Blue Dragons open the second semester at No. 3 Butler on January 3 and will return to the Sports Arena on January 6 against Northwest Tech. Cowley is now 7-6 overall and 1-6 in the conference.

Jackson knocked down a Blue Dragon individual and personal high five free throws in seven attempts to power her career-high 26-point performance, which ties for second most by a Blue Dragon this season. Overall, Jackson was 9 of 14 from the field. Jackson added seven rebounds and two steals.

The Blue Dragon defense held Cowley to 25.0 percent shooting (12 of 48) and just 2 of 18 from 3-point range. The Blue Dragons also forced 22 Tiger turnovers, which Hutchinson turned into a 24-8 advantage in points off turnovers.

Leading 12-8 after one quarter, the Blue Dragon defense clamped down on Cowley in the second stanza, holding the Tigers to 2 of 12 shooting. The Dragons didn't allow Cowley to score for the first 7 minutes, 12 seconds – that scoreless streak was 9 minutes, 18 seconds going back to the end of the first quarter.

The Blue Dragons held Cowley 22 points under its season scoring average.

Kiki Smith had 17 points with eight rebounds, three steals, two assists and two blocked shots.

Monae Duffy just missed a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds. Akaysha Muggeridge had seven points and a career-best six assists.

The Blue Dragons shot 40.9 percent (27 of 66), hitting 9 of 31 from 3-point range and 9 of 16 from the free-throw line. The Dragons out-rebounded Cowley 45-30 and grabbed 20 offensive rebounds. Hutchinson had 15 turnovers.

Ndack Mbengue had 15 points and seven rebounds to lead the Tigers. Anna Pryzyszlak had 12 points.

The Blue Dragons got off to a slow offensive start, shooting only 25 percent in the opening quarter. Leading 6-6 with 5:18 to play in the quarter, Smith scored inside and then scored in transition with 2:27 left to take a 10-6 lead. Hutchinson led 12-8 after one quarter after a Bree Horyna putback with 14 seconds left in the quarter.

That Horyna bucket started what became a 21-0 run for the Blue Dragons. Jackson's basket with 3:04 left in the second quarter capped the run and gave the Dragons a 31-8 lead. The Blue Dragons led 33-14 at halftime.

The Blue Dragons opened the third quarter with a 16-0 run over the first 3:18 of the period. Jackson hit a 3-pointer with 6:42 to play in the quarter to give the Dragons a 47-14 lead.

GAME NOTES – Hutchinson's 12-0 start is the ninth-best start in program history. … Journey Armstead had a season-high eight assists, her seventh career game of eight or more assists. … The Blue Dragons are now 32-24 all-time vs. Cowley, including 15-6 at the Sports Arena. Hutchinson has won nine games in a row over Cowley at the Arena. … Cowley's six points in the second quarter is the second fewest allowed by the Dragons this season. … The Dragons had their fourth game of 20 or more offensive rebounds and fifth game of forcing 20 or more turnovers.