HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Katie Duncan stayed hot and the No. 20 Hutchinson Community College women’s basketball team delivered a smothering defensive performance in a 68-41 Jayhawk Conference win over Seward County on Saturday at the Sports Arena.
The Blue Dragons improved to 8-2 overall and 3-1 in league play by holding the Saints to a season-low 17.5 percent shooting from the field. Seward County finished 10 of 57 overall and went the entire second quarter without a made field goal, scoring all six of its points in the period at the free-throw line.
Duncan poured in 21 points for the second straight game. She went 9 of 12 from the floor, including 3 of 5 from 3-point range, and added three rebounds, two steals and a block.
Hutchinson and Seward County were tied 11-11 after the first quarter before the Dragons completely flipped the game with their defense. The Saints missed all 11 of their field-goal attempts in the second quarter as Hutchinson forced seven turnovers and controlled the glass to build a 27-17 halftime lead.
Hutchinson then put the game out of reach in the third quarter with a 22-9 scoring advantage. Duncan scored eight in the period, including a 3-pointer in the final seconds, and the Dragons repeatedly turned stops into transition opportunities on the other end. By the end of the quarter, Hutchinson led 49-26 and never allowed the margin to slip below 20 again, pushing the lead to as many as 29 points in the fourth.
KaMyra Barber turned in a complete performance with a 15-point, 12-rebound double-double, her second double-double of the season. She pulled down five offensive boards, handed out five assists, collected two steals and blocked a shot while helping set the tone defensively on the perimeter and the backboards.
Whitney Brown directed the offense with six assists to go with five points and two steals. Dylan Alexander added six points, three rebounds and a steal. Off the bench, Jamya McPherson supplied eight points, three steals and two assists, knocking down a key 3-pointer during Hutchinson’s second-quarter surge.
The Dragons finished 25 of 58 shooting for 43.1 percent and 7 of 21 from 3-point range. Hutchinson went 11 of 20 at the free-throw line, outrebounded Seward County 43-41 and forced 18 turnovers while committing 12. The Dragons also piled up 13 steals and eight blocked shots, led by three blocks from forward Noelle Anthon.
Seward County’s only consistent offense came from guard Avery Marchino, who scored 22 of the Saints’ 41 points. She was 5 of 15 from the field, 3 of 7 from 3-point range and a perfect 9 of 9 at the line.
Outside of Marchino, Seward County went just 5 of 42 from the field. Kimora Fagan, Grace Posch and Trinitee Holmes combined to shoot 1 of 18, and the Saints were limited to five made 3-pointers in 22 attempts.
Hutchinson led 27-17 at the break, then opened the second half by repeatedly attacking the paint. The Dragons used a 12-2 burst to stretch the margin to 39-19, highlighted by a pair of Duncan layups and Barber’s driving finishes. From there, the Dragons controlled the tempo on both ends, using half-court pressure and strong closeouts to prevent any Seward County comeback.
The Blue Dragons will travel to Great Bend on Wednesday to face the Barton Cougars. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. from the Kirkman Center.