GARDEN CITY, Kan. — Jaden Wilson posted career highs in points and rebounds and the No. 18 Hutchinson Community College women used a flurry of 3-pointers early in the fourth quarter to pull away for a 68-61 win over Garden City on Wednesday at Conestoga Arena.
Hutchinson (15-4, 10-3 Jayhawk) trailed most of the night and did not take its first lead until Wilson’s three-point play with 1:35 left in the third quarter made it 45-44.
After Garden City answered to regain the edge, the Blue Dragons opened the fourth with three straight 3s to seize control. Jamya McPherson drilled a go-ahead 3 at the 9:09 mark, Delora Pricop followed with another at 7:18 and Kaia Smith buried a third at 6:19 as Hutchinson pushed in front 54-49.
Wilson finished with 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds. McPherson added 12 points, hitting 2 of 4 from deep, and Smith scored nine with a key 3 during the fourth-quarter surge. Noelle Anthon chipped in nine points and five rebounds.
Garden City (12-6, 7-6) led 23-16 after one quarter behind London Turner’s 16 points and carried a 35-30 advantage into halftime. Deija Roberson scored 12 points and Caryle Fortas added nine on 2-for-2 shooting from 3-point range. Paula Fernandez hit 3 of 4 from beyond the arc off the bench.
Hutchinson overcame a 36.1% shooting night by going 19 of 25 at the foul line and forcing 25 turnovers. Katie Duncan had five steals and five assists as the Blue Dragons finished with 11 steals.
The Blue Dragons will host No. 8 Butler on Saturday at the Sports Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.