JACKSON TAPPED AS NJCAA PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

Hutchinson Community College forward Hailey Jackson has been named the NJCAA Division I Women's Basketball National Player of the Week on Wednesday.

The sophomore forward from Tulsa, Oklahoma, had a tremendous final week of the first semester for the No. 1 Blue Dragons. A week that included a double-double against Cloud County and sinking three free throws in the final second to help Hutchinson avert an upset bid by Garden City.

For the week, Jackson averaged 24.0 points per game while shooting 56.0 percent overall and 5-of-9 from 3-point range and 15 of 18 from the foul line in addition to grabbing 9.0 rebounds per game.

Against Garden City, Jackson had 25 points and went a perfect 12 of 12 from the foul line, including three free throws to tie and take the lead with 1.5 seconds remaining in a 46-45 win.

Against Cloud County, Jackson had her fifth double-double of the season with 23 points and 10 rebounds in a 77-53 road victory.

Jackson is the first Blue Dragon to earn NJCAA national weekly honors since Kiki Smith did so last season. This is the fourth-straight season that a Blue Dragon player has earned national weekly honors.

The Blue Dragons are on holiday break and will return to action on Saturday, January 4 against Cowley at the Sports Arena in a 2 p.m. tipoff.