HUTCHINSON, Kan. — No. 17 Hutchinson Community College turned a halftime tie into another statement win Wednesday night, riding a dominant third quarter to a 50-42 victory over Colby at the Sports Arena.
The Blue Dragons won their seventh straight, improved to 22-5 overall and 17-4 in the KJCCC, and completed a regular-season sweep of the Trojans.
After Colby erased an early deficit and carried a 25-25 tie into the locker room, Hutchinson took control with a 19-6 third quarter. The Blue Dragons forced turnovers on four of Colby’s first six possessions of the second half and repeatedly cashed in at the other end, building a double-digit cushion they never surrendered. Hutchinson led by as many as 15 and took a 44-31 advantage into the fourth.
Kaia Smith, the Hutchinson native led the Blue Dragons with 12 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals. Delora Pricop provided a lift off the bench with 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting, including a pair of 3-pointers. Katie Duncan added eight points, five assists and three steals, while Noelle Anthon and KaMyra Barber scored six points apiece.
Colby was led by Amisha Russell’s 12 points, all coming on four 3-pointers, and Dessirae Ulmer’s 10 points and four rebounds. Elia Ando scored six points in 14 minutes off the bench.
Both teams struggled to find rhythm offensively, with Hutchinson shooting 35.1% (20 of 57) and Colby 37.8% (17 of 45). The difference came in extra possessions. Hutchinson forced 21 turnovers and turned them into 19 points, while also holding a 33-29 edge on the glass and scoring eight second-chance points. Colby finished with 16 points in the paint and did not score a second-chance point.
Hutchinson led 10-9 after the first quarter, but Colby answered with a 16-point second to pull even at halftime. The Trojans trimmed the deficit to 44-33 early in the fourth, but the Blue Dragons’ defense closed the door, limiting Colby to 11 points in the final period.
The Blue Dragons will travel to Coffeyville (19-7, 13-7) on Saturday afternoon to face the Red Ravens. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. You can hear it on Country 102.9 (KHUT-FM) and 1450-AM/98.5-FM KWBW, with pregame coverage starting at 1:45 p.m. from Nellis Hall.