Blue Dragons roll to eighth straight with career nights From Anthon, Duncan

Information obtained from HCC officials

Blue Dragons roll to eighth straight with career nights From Anthon, Duncan
Image courtesy of HCC officials

COFFEYVILLE, Kan. — Noelle Anthon set a career high with 24 points and Katie Duncan added 20 as No. 17 Hutchinson Community College's women's basketball team defeated Coffeyville 82-69 Saturday, Feb. 21, at Nellis Hall, extending the Blue Dragons' winning streak to eight games.

Hutchinson improves to 23-5 overall and 18-4 in the Jayhawk Conference. Coffeyville falls to 19-8 overall and 13-8 in conference play. The two teams split the season series.

Anthon shot 11-for-16 from the floor and pulled down five rebounds. Duncan was equally efficient, going 6-for-9 from the field with five 3-pointers while also setting a career high with eight assists and adding six rebounds and two steals. It was the eighth time this season Duncan scored over 20 points.

As a team, Hutchinson shot 50% from the field and a season-best 63.2% from 3-point range, going 12-for-19 from deep. The Blue Dragons were 14-for-22 from the free-throw line and outscored Coffeyville in points off turnovers 18-6.

Coffeyville's Aubrey Hishaw scored a game-high 34 points on 14-for-25 shooting, adding eight rebounds and four assists. Esme Smith recorded a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds. The Red Ravens shot 43.3% from the field and outrebounded Hutchinson 36-35.

Coffeyville led by as many as seven early, with Hishaw scoring seven of the team's first nine points. Hutchinson took its first lead at 19-17 with 1:32 left in the first quarter on back-to-back 3-pointers from Delora Pricop and Tayla Galucho. A late three from Smith gave Coffeyville a one-point edge after one quarter.

The Blue Dragons closed the first half on a 7-0 run, with Duncan hitting two 3-pointers — including one at the buzzer — to take a 38-34 halftime lead.

Coffeyville responded with a 7-0 run to retake the lead at 41-40, but Hutchinson answered with its own 7-0 spurt to go up 47-41 with 4:26 left in the third quarter. The Red Ravens never led again.

Hutchinson returns home to host Pratt at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28 for Sophomore Recognition Day and the 14th Annual Pinkout.