NO. 19 DRAGONS PULL AWAY TO DEFEAT COWLEY

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

The No. 19-ranked Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team earned their fourth-straight victory with a balanced scoring attack that had four players score in double figures on Saturday.

With their KJCCC game against Cowley tied after the first quarter, the Blue Dragons outscored the Tigers by 21 points over the final three quarters for a 74-53 victory.

The Blue Dragons improved to 10-2 overall and 5-1 in the conference. The Blue Dragons travel to play No. 1 Dodge City on Wednesday in Dodge City. Cowley is now 6-5 overall and 2-3 in the KJCCC.

Sophomore Katie Duncan scored a game-high 15 points to lead a balanced Dragon offense. Duncan hit three 3-point goals and was 4 of 6 from the foul line. Duncan also had four rebounds, four assists and four steals.

Jamya McPherson came off the bench to score a season-high 13 points, shooting 6 of 14 points with a 3-pointer. McPherson had a season-high-tying four assists.

Freshman Whitney Brown also had 13 points with three assists. Freshman KaMyra Barber finished with 12 points and tied a season high with six assists. Delora Pricop had eight points and Noelle Anthon had six points and six rebounds.

The Blue Dragons shot 45.2 percent (28 of 62), sinking 9 of 29 3-point attempts and 9 of 13 from the free-throw line. The Dragons owned a 42-29 advantage on the boards – Kaia Smith had a game-high nine rebounds. The Dragons had seven turnovers.

Amina Allen had 14 points and Megan Simon added 13 point to lead Cowley.

The Tigers shot 32.3 percent (20 of 62), going 4 of 21 from 3-point range and 9 of 15 from the foul line. The Tigers had 11 turnovers.

The Dragons took an early 9-5 lead on an Anthon baseline jumper with 6:02 left in the opening quarter. Cowley answered with a 8-1 run over the next 2:58 and took a 13-10 lead after an Allen 3-pointer. Duncan answered with a 3-pointer on the next possession, then Pricop scored with 1:39 left to tie the game at 15-15.

Leading by one point, Duncan started a 7-0 Hutchinson run with a jumper. McPherson's floater in the lane capped the run with 6:03 left to give the Dragons a 27-19 lead. Pricop hit a jumper to give the Dragons a 33-24 lead with 1:17 to go. The Dragons led 33-26 at intermission.

Leading 35-33 early in the third quarter, the Blue Dragons took command of the game with a 12-0 run over the next 3:58. Brown's 3-pointer began the run. Barber then added five consecutive points and Duncan closed the surge with 5 of 6 free throws to give the Dragons a 47-33 lead with 4:24 to go in the third. Cowley cut the Dragon lead to 56-44 at the end of the third quarter.

The first 6:48 of the fourth quarter belonged to the Blue Dragons. Brown and McPherson started the period with a 2- and 3-pointer, respectively, for a 61-44 lead. A McPherson field goal, Duncan 3-pointer and Duncan layup upped the Hutchinson lead to a game-high 25 points at 73-48 with 3:18 to play.

GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons are now 35-26 against Cowley, including 17-6 at the Sports Arena. … This was Hutchinson's sixth win of 20 or more points this season. … The Dragons are 6-1 at the Sports Arena this season.