BLUE DRAGONS FALL AT COFFEYVILLE

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

COFFEYVILLE – The No. 6-ranked Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team couldn't overcome a tough first quarter against No. 22 Coffeyville on Thursday night.

The Red Ravens scored the first eight points of the game and built a lead as large as 20 points in the first half before the Blue Dragons rallied to within five points with less than 3 minutes to play. The Dragons weren't able to complete the comeback in a 64-55 KJCCC loss at Nellis Hall.

The Blue Dragons fell to 21-2 overall and 15-2 in the KJCCC. The Dragons have their second league bye on Saturday and will next play at Garden City at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Coffeyville extended its win streak to eight in a row and is now 18-3 overall, 13-3 in the Jayhawk.

Coffeyville led 8-0 just 2:01 into the game. Hailey Jackson scored four-straight points for the Dragons, but the Ravens went on a 14-5 run to end the quarter and lead 22-9. Hutchinson was just 3 of 13 with six turnovers in the opening 10 minutes. Coffeyville was 8 of 18, including three Norika Welch 3-pointers.

Sophomore Landon Forbes led the Blue Dragons with 14 points, going 3 of 5 from 3-point range.

Jackson finished with 13 points and five rebounds, but was limited to only 4 minutes, 35 seconds of playing time in the first half with foul trouble.

Kahlen Norris hit a pair of 3-pointers and finished in double figures with 10 points and five rebounds. Jada Pleasant had seven points.

The Blue Dragons shot 32.1 percent (18 of 56), going 6 of 16 from 3-point range and 13 of 14 from the free-throw line. The Dragons and Red Ravens were tied at 34-34 in rebounding with 15 turnovers, only nine turnovers over the final three quarters.

Coffeyville shot an opponent season-high 47.1 percent (24 of 51), hitting 6 of 18 from 3-point range and 10 of 16 from the foul line. The Ravens also had 15 turnovers.

Welch hit 4 of 11 3-point goals and finished with a game-high 19 points. Aubrey Hishaw closed with 14 points.

Coffeyville's initial surge was a 27-9 lead with 7:53 remaining in the second quarter. The Dragons started to chip away with a pair of Zhane Singer free throws and Pleasant's 3-pointer and 2-pointer on back-to-back possessions to pull within 29-16 with 5:15 remaining in the second quarter. The Ravens answered with a 7-0 run to lead 36-16 with 1:47 remaining. The Dragons closed the quarter on a 7-2 run with Carly Dameron hitting a layup with 13 seconds left in the period to cut the Coffeyville lead to 38-23.

The Blue Dragons made a third-quarter surge and pulled within 11 points at 47-36 after two Pleasant free throws with 2:08 to play. Coffeyville then scored five in a row to rebuild a 17-point lead. Jackson closed the quarter with two Jackson free throws and the Dragons trailed 53-38 after three quarters.

Hutchinson went on an 11-0 run early in the fourth quarter. Forbes hit back-to-back field goals to pull within 55-49 with 5:03 left. Norris later nailed a 3-pointer with 2:35 left to pull within 60-55. The Ravens ended the Blue Dragon comeback with back-to-back Hishaw baskets to give Coffeyville a 64-55 lead with 36 seconds to go.

GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons saw their four-game win streak come to an end. … The Dragons are now 21-15 all-time against Coffeyville, including 6-6 in games played in Coffeyville. … Hailey Jackson moved into 14th place on the Blue Dragon career scoring list with 888 points, moving past Kirea Rogers. She moved into seventh in career free throws with 238. … Jackson surpassed the 400-point mark for this season with 410 points and she is now eighth in single-season free throws with 136. … Norika Welch's four 3-pointers were an individual opponent season high.