NO. 20 BLUE DRAGONS ROLL IN ROAD WIN AT PRATT

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

PRATT – The Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team shot a season-high 55.2 percent and tied a series record with the Pratt Beavers for the longest win streak on Wednesday night.

The Blue Dragons captured their 22nd consecutive victory over the Beavers with an 86-47 victory at the Dennis Lesh Sports Arena.

No. 20 Hutchinson improved to 13-4 overall and 8-3 in the Jayhawk Conference. The Blue Dragons close out the first half of conference play at 2 p.m. Saturday against the Fort Hays Tech Northwest Tigers at the Sports Arena. Pratt is now 6-11 overall and 2-10 in the KJCCC.

Hutchinson's current 22-game win streak over Pratt started in 2016. The streak matches a 22-game win streak over the Beavers from 1993 to 2003.

The Blue Dragons wasted no time taking control of the game, scoring the first 13 points over the first 3:50 of the contest. The Dragons led 21-11 after one quarter, 45-22 at halftime and 68-30 after three quarters.

Sophomore Noelle Anthon scored a career-high 19 points on 9 of 11 shooting – the nine field goals are also a career-best for Anthon. She added eight rebounds to her performance.

Sophomore Katie Duncan tied a career high with four 3-point goals in a 17-point performance. Sophomore Delora Precop scored a season-high 16 points, which included a pair of 3-point goals. Freshman KaMyra Barber had 15 points and eight rebounds. Kaia Smith also hit a pair of 3-pointers and closed with eight points.

The Blue Dragons were 32 of 58 from the floor, hitting 10 of 24 from 3-point range and 12 of 22 from the free-throw line. The Dragons out-rebounded Pratt 42-28 and had 22 assists, 13 steals and tied a season high with eight blocked shots.

Pratt shot 31.6 percent (18 of 57), shooting 27.5 percent over the first three quarters. The Beavers were 5 of 15 from long distance and 6 of 16 from the foul line. The Beavers committed 18 turnovers.

Polla Balant had 12 points and six rebounds to lead Pratt.

Barber had six points, Anthon had four points and Duncan had three points during Hutchinson's initial 13-0 run to start the game. Leading 15-1, the Beavers got that first field goal at the 4:39 mark of the first quarter. The Beavers cut the Dragon lead to 15-9, but closed the half strong, getting an Anthon jumper with 18 seconds left for a 21-11 lead after 10 minutes.

Leading 23-15 early in the second, Tayla Galucho's free throw sparked a 10-3 Dragon run that extended the Dragon lead to 33-18 after an Anthony bucket with 5:42 to play in the half. With a 35-22 lead, the Dragons closed the half on a 10-0 run, getting a Duncan layup with 2 seconds remaining for a 45-22 halftime lead. The Dragons shot 66.7 percent (10 of 15) in the second quarter.

The Blue Dragons were even better in the third quarter shooting 72.7 percent (8 of 11) and holding Pratt to 2 of 12 from the field in a 23-8 stanza. Duncan's 3-pointer with 4:11 to play pushed the Hutchinson lead past 30 for the first time at 55-24. Leading 61-30, the Dragons closed the quarter on a 7-0 run, holding the Beavers scoreless for the final 2:10 to build a 68-30 lead after three quarters.

The Dragons established their largest lead of 43 three different times in the fourth quarter at 7-34, 80-37 and 82-39.

GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons are now 91-11 all-time vs. Pratt, including 44-6 in Pratt. … This was head coach John Ontjes' career 525th all-time win. … The Dragons are now 68-6 all-time in the Ontjes era following a loss. … The 24 points scored in the second quarter were a season high for a second quarter this season. … The 39-point margin of victory is a season high for Hutchinson. … Noelle Anthon reached the career 200-point mark. … Sophomore Jaden Wilson had a career-high three blocked shots. … This was the third time this season the Dragons have shot 50 percent or better in a game.