by Freshman Kiki Smith scored 19 of her game-high 25 points in the first half as the No. 11-ranked Hutchinson Community College women’s basketball team extended its season-opening winning streak to 14 games on Saturday at the Sports Arena.
Smith’s fourth game of 25 or more points this season powered the Blue Dragons to a 92-44 Jayhawk Conference victory over Northwest Tech.
Now 14-0 to start the season, the Blue Dragons (8-0 in the KJCCC) tied the 2001-02 Blue Dragons for the eighth-best start in program history. Hutchinson plays host to Seward County at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Sports Arena. Northwest Tech fell to 1-11 overall and 0-8 in league play.
Smith hit 9 of 15 overall shots and tied a season high with four 3-pointers on nine attempts to lead the Blue Dragons, who surpassed the 90-point mark for the first time since scoring 92 against Pratt on December 2. The freshman guard hit 7 of 10 shots, including three 3-pointers, in a 19-point first half that helped Hutchinson build a 48-21 halftime lead. Smith added three rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Hailey Jackson finished with 12 points and eight rebound. Jackson hit 6 of 8 shots. Madi Denison came off the bench to become the third Blue Dragon to score in double figures with 12 points on 5 of 9 shooting. Denison added seven rebounds.
Monae Duffy had eight points and nine rebounds. Akaysha Muggeridge scored eight points and blocked a season-high two shots. Bree Horyna had eight points, eight rebounds and a career-high three steals. Kahlen Norris also scored eight points with a season-high four field goals.
The Blue Dragons shot 46.7 percent overall (35 of 37), hitting 8 of 27 from 3-point range and 14 of 20 from the free-throw line. The Blue Dragons out-rebounded Northwest Tech 50-37.
Serena Lee had 17 points to lead the Mavericks, who lost their ninth-straight game. Sy Crowley had nine points. The Mavericks were held to 22.6 percent shooting (14 of 62), going 6 of 34 from 3-point range and 10 of 12 from the foul line. The Mavericks turned the ball over 27 times, which led to a 31-7 advantage in points off turnovers for the Blue Dragons.
The Blue Dragons started the game on a 10-0 run over the first 4:08 of the game. Leading 13-8, the Dragons tacked on a quick 8-0 run that was capped by two Denison free throws for a 21-9 lead with 2:13 to play. Hutchinson extended that run to 12-2 and led 25-10 after a Horyna transition layup with 1:21 to play. The Dragons shot 52.9 percent in the first quarter and led 27-15 after 10 minutes.
The Blue Dragons dominated the second quarter, outscoring Northwest Tech 21-6 – the six points allowed tied for the second fewest allowed by Hutchinson this season. The Blue Dragons led 31-17 and buried the Mavericks with a 13-0 run and held Tech scoreless for 5 minutes, 26 seconds. Duffy capped that run with a point-blank bucket with 2:48 left for a 44-17 lead. The Dragons led 48-21 at halftime.
The Blue Dragons’ largest lead was the final margin of 48 points as Hutchinson closed the game with an 18-6 run over the final 7:18 of the game.
