BLUE DRAGONS FALL AT NO. 1 DODGE CITY

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

DODGE CITY – The No. 1-ranked Dodge City Conquistadors stung the 18th-ranked Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team with six first-quarter 3-point field goals as the Blue Dragons never recovered.

Dodge City's 3-point prowess helped turn a two-point deficit into an 11-point lead after one quarter and the Blue Dragons had their four-game winning streak snapped after a 79-57 loss to the Conquistadors.

Hutchinson is now 10-3 overall and 5-2 in the KJCCC. The Blue Dragons close the pre-Christmas portion of their schedule at 2 p.m. Saturday against Cloud County in the Sports Arena. Dodge City is now 11-0 overall and 6-0 in the league.

KaMyra Barber hit a 3-point goal with 6:21 remaining in the first quarter that gave the Blue Dragons an 11-9 lead. Dodge City answered with four 3-pointers and a pair of transition layups to take control with a 20-7 run and lead Hutchinson 29-18 after the first quarter.

Dodge City was 6 of 10 from distance in the first quarter and 11 of 31 from 3-point range in the game. The Dragons were 4 of 17 from 3-point range, including 3 of 14 over the final three quarters.

Barber led the Blue Dragons with 17 points on 5 of 12 shooting and 6 of 7 from the foul line. She added a pair of assists.

Sophomore Noelle Anthon tied a career high with 15 points on 6 of 13 shooting. She just missed a double-double with nine rebounds.

Freshman Whitney Brown had nine points, six rebounds and five assists for the Blue Dragons. Sophomore Delora Pricop also had seven points.

The Blue Dragons shot 34.5 percent (20 of 58) and were 13 of 19 from the free-throw line. The Dragons were out-rebounded 37-35 and the Dragons had 19 turnovers.

Manuela Piljevic led Dodge City with a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds. Charlie Melksham also had 15 points. Sophia Ahmed had 12 points and Jade Celerier had 10 points. The 79 points scored by the Conquistadors were the most against Hutchinson in series history.

Dodge City shot 48.3 percent overall (29 of 60) and was 10 of 14 from the foul line. Dodge City had 23 assists and 17 turnovers.

Trailing by 11 points, the Dragons got a jumper from Brown and a layup from Anthon to pull within 29-22 with 9:02 to go in the second quarter. Over the next 7 minutes, 24 seconds, all the Dragons got was two Brown 3-pointers as Dodge City went on a 17-6 run to open a 46-28 lead. The Dragons trailed 46-31 at halftime.

Layups from Barber and Anthony opened the third quarter and pulled Hutchinson within 46-35, but Dodge City hit a pair of 3-pointers in an 8-0 run for a 54-35 lead with 4:17 to play in the period. A Duncan layup pulled the Dragons within 57-44 with 1:18 left. Dodge City led 60-44 heading to the fourth quarter.

The Blue Dragons started the fourth quarter scoreless for the first 6:05 as Dodge City built a 28-point lead at 74-46. The Dragons closed the game on a 11-5 run.

GAME NOTES – The Dragons are now 77-32 overall against Dodge City, including 36-17 in games played in Dodge City. … The Dragons are 0-2 against ranked opponents this season. … The Blue Dragons are 0-7 all-time against No. 1-ranked teams in program history. … The Dragons are 2-2 in true road games this season. … The 11 3-pointers by Dodge City were the third time an opponent had 11 in a game against Hutchinson this season. … The 23 assists by Dodge City were the first time an opponents had 20 or more assists since 2017. … Katie Duncan surpassed the career 400-point mark with 403 points. … Delora Pricop is averaging 7.3 points over her last three games.