HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The No. 1 Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team cruised to a 90-56 Region VI quarterfinal win over Cloud County on Tuesday at the Sports Arena.
The Blue Dragons improve to 31-0 overall and will play Barton on Friday at 1 p.m. in the Region VI semifinal at the Sports Arena.
Cloud County (15-16) took a 2-0 lead early in the first quarter, but that would be their only lead of the game. Hutchinson scored the games next 14 points to lead 14-2 midway through the first period.
The Blue Dragons never looked back, leading 32-10 after the first quarter. The 32 points scored were the most points scored by HutchCC in the first quarter of a game this season. Hutchinson shot 66 percent from the floor in the period and knocked down four-of-five 3-point shots.
Hutchinson continued to grow its lead in the second quarter, building a 50-21 lead at halftime. The Blue Dragons knocked down four more 3-pointers in the second quarter to finish the half with eight made threes.
Cloud County outscored the Blue Dragons by two in the third period, but Hutchinson still held a comfortable 65-38 lead going into the fourth quarter.
Hutchinson shot 60 percent from the floor and knocked down three 3-pointers in the final frame to coast to the 34-point victory.
Five Blue Dragons scored in double figures, led by Hailey Jackson with 16 points. Kiki Smith finished with 15, Monae Duffy 12, Akaysha Muggeridge 12 and Journey Armstead with 10.
HutchCC finished 49.3 percent from the floor shooting and knocked down 12 3-pointers. The Blue Dragons finished plus-1 in rebounding and turned the ball over just six times.
Cloud County was led in scoring by Bailey Burns with 18 points, while Maimouna Sissoko finished with a double-double, 17 points and 11 rebounds.
The Blue Dragons are now 67-38 all-time in Region VI Tournament games, and advance to their 21st semifinal game in program history.