DODGE CITY, Kan. — No. 22 Hutchinson (6-0, 1-0) rallied from a 10-point deficit with 3:21 left to hand No. 11 Dodge City (6-1, 0-1) its first loss of the season.
The Dragons trailed by as many as 14 in the third quarter before pulling within two with 4:49 left on an Akaysha Muggeridge three.
Dodge City answered with eight-straight points, five from point guard Paris Santacaterina, who finished the day with 24 points on 10-of-26 shooting.
Journey Armstead and Kiki Smith hit back-to-back threes to pull Hutchinson within 68-64.
Armstead hit just one of her eight attempts from distance, but her three with less than three minutes to play sparked a Dragon 14-2 run to close the contest.
Smith got open on a backdoor layup before Dodge City's Layla-J Cameron unknowingly scored her team's final points.
Armstead answered the Cameron basket with an And-1 to pull Hutchinson closer at 70-69.
With the shot clock dark, Cameron tried to ice the game with a corner three. The Dragons snagged the miss.
Armstead was fouled on the offensive end with 11.6 remaining and put Hutchinson on top 71-70.
The Conqs used their final timeout to advance the ball into the front court. Ky Jones missed a right-corner three and Hailey Jackson secured the rebound.
Jackson was fouled and made one of her two attempts to put Hutchinson up 72-70 with 2.7 seconds left.
Dodge City hit Santacaterina on-the-run, but her three-quarter court attempt at the buzzer was well short.
FINAL: Hutchinson 72 Dodge City 70
Smith scored 25 points on an impressive 10-0f-15 shooting.
Armstead finished with 17 points and nine rebounds.
Dodge City made 13 triples and shot 38.2% from distance.
The Dragons return to the Sports Arena Nov. 21 to face NOC-Tonkawa.
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