HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The No. 13 Hutchinson Community College women’s basketball team left little doubt Saturday afternoon in the Hutchinson Sports Arena.
The Blue Dragons overwhelmed Pratt 75-34, extending their winning streak to nine games and improving to 24-5 overall and 19-4 in the Jayhawk Conference.
Hutchinson seized control almost immediately. After Pratt scored the game’s opening basket, the Blue Dragons answered with a decisive run sparked by Katie Duncan and KaMyra Barber. Hutchinson built a 21-10 lead after one quarter, then clamped down defensively in the second, holding Pratt to just six points to take a 37-16 halftime advantage.
The separation only grew after the break. Hutchinson outscored Pratt 18-6 in the third quarter to stretch the lead to 55-22 entering the fourth and led by as many as 41 points in the second half.
The Blue Dragons dominated the glass, finishing with a 52-29 rebounding edge, including 18 offensive rebounds that turned into 19 second-chance points. Hutchinson also forced 19 turnovers and converted them into 16 points while handing out 19 assists on 25 made field goals.
Duncan led Hutchinson with 12 points, hitting two 3-pointers and going 6 of 7 from the free-throw line. Rylee McLucas added 11 points off the bench, knocking down three 3-pointers. Jamya McPherson scored 10 points, and Kaia Smith contributed eight points and 12 rebounds. Jaden Wilson chipped in five points and five rebounds as Hutchinson’s bench accounted for 36 points.
Pratt shot 12 of 52 from the field at 23.1 percent. Amaya Pierre-Jerome led the Beavers with 12 points.
The game doubled as the program’s 14th annual Pink Out and Sophomore Day. Six student-athletes were recognized following the game: Katie Duncan, Noelle Anthon, Dylan Alexander, Jaden Wilson, Jamya McPherson and Delora Pricop.
Hutchinson closes the regular season Wednesday at Fort Hays Tech Northwest. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. Central at Max Jones Fieldhouse.