by INDEPENDENCE – The trio of Kiki Smith, Monae Duffy and Hailey Jackson combined for 51 points to pace the No. 14-ranked Hutchinson Community College women’s basketball team to a Jayhawk Conference road victory on Wednesday night.
The Blue Dragons used a late second-quarter 12-2 run to pull away for a 73-48 KJCCC win over the Independence Pirates at the ICC Fieldhouse.
The Blue Dragons improved to 9-0 overall and 3-0 in the Jayhawk Conference. Hutchinson plays host to Pratt at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Sports Arena. Independence fell to 5-4 overall and 0-4 in the KJCCC.
Smith led the Blue Dragons with 18 points, hitting 8 of 16 total shots, including a pair of 3-pointers. Smith added four assists and three steals.
Duffy scored 17 points and seven rebounds. Duffy made 8 of 17 shots with a 3-pointer.
Jackson scored 16 points on 4 of 7 shooting from the field and 8 of 9 shooting from the free-thrown line. She just missed a double-double with nine rebounds and had a season-high four steals.
Journey Armstead was the fourth Blue Dragon to score in double figures with 12 points. Armstead added seven assists, five rebounds and three steals.
The Blue Dragons shot 42.9 percent for the game (30 of 70), hitting 4 of 13 from the 3-point line and 9 of 16 from the free-throw line. The Blue Dragons out-rebounded Independence 41-35 and committed only 11 turnovers.
