HUTCHINSON, Kan. — It was not easy, but the Dragons remained perfect at home and in the new year Saturday night despite a tough matchup with Seward.
Neither team is currently ranked. According to Blue Dragon Sports Information, Saturday's contest marked just the second time since 2006 neither program had a Top 25 designation in the meeting.
Hutchinson (13-4, 7-4) has only lost on the road this season, but got a mighty test from Seward (9-8, 7-4).
The Saints led by six with just 1:40 off the clock. Hutchinson battled back to tie the game at 15 to end the first quarter.
The Dragons struggled from distance and went 0-7 from three to begin the game.
A Mya Williams three with 20 seconds left in the first quarter evened the score.
Hutchinson took a slim 39-38 lead into the locker room after surrendering 20 points in 20 minutes of play to Seward's D'Arrah Allen.
Allen knocked down treys on four consecutive trips to pull Seward within two after trailing by as many as nine in the second quarter.
Allen finished the half 8 0f 14 shooting from the floor and 4 of 4 from three-point land. The Saints shot a blistering 54.5% (6-11) from beyond the arc in the first half.
Meanwhile, Hutchinson hit just 4 of 14 threes (28.6%).
Allen struggled with fouls in the second half, but Seward got help from De'Shawnti Thomas while Allen was on the bench. Thomas scored 12 of her 18 points in the second half.
Despite Allen's third-quarter absence, the Saints took a one-point advantage headed into the final frame.
Five Dragons scored in double figures to ensure Hutchinson stayed a perfect 9-0 at home on the season.
Williams scored 14 of her total 20 points in the second half. Monae Duffy and Kali Howard each notched double-doubles.
Duffy finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds. She fouled out of the contest with 2:37 remaining.
Howard had 14 monster rebounds and 10 points.
Journey Armstead scored 15 points off the bench and dished four assists. Morgan Browning shot just 4 of 12, but added 11 points.
Allen battled foul trouble and injury in the second half, she added just seven points to her total in the final 20 minutes.
The score changed 15 times in the contest and was tied 11 times.
The Dragons led the game eight seconds fewer (18:29 total minutes to 18:37) than Seward, but managed to outscore the Saints by seven in the final 10 minutes and have the lead when the buzzer sounded.
FINAL: Hutchinson 82 Seward 76
Hutchinson finished 6 of 27 from three-point range (22.2%) and made only 30 of 44 free throws (68.2%).
Seward made 13 of 19 (68.4%) free throws.
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