By Steve Carpenter-Hutchinson CC Sports Information

FORT MYERS, Florida – The Hutchinson Community College women’s basketball team hit a eight 3-pointers and then had to survive a more than 5-minute scoreless drought to the game to knock off No. 21 Florida Southwestern State 60-56 in the final game of the FSW Classic at the Suncoast Credit Union Arena on Saturday.

The Blue Dragons complete their holiday trip 2-0 and have won 11-straight holiday games dating back to 2001. Overall, Hutchinson has won nine consecutive games to improve to 11-2. Florida Southwestern State falls to 14-4 having its six-game winning streak snapped. The Buccaneers also lose on their home floor for the first time in eight games.

Freshman Sara Cramer knocked down for of Hutchinson’s eight 3-pointers on Saturday. She scored eight of her game-high 16 points in a third period where Hutchinson extended a four-point halftime lead with a 24-14 third quarter. When Kelsey Brett hit a 3-pointer from the right corner at the third-quarter buzzer, Hutchinson carried a 52-38 lead into the final period.

The Dragons led by as many as 17 points in the fourth quarter and led 60-44 after an Alicia Brown trey with 5 minutes to go. Those were Hutchinson’s last points as the Buccaneers scored the final 12 points of the game, pulling within 60-56 on their only 3-pointer of the game. Elizabeth Spencer hit the shot with 40 seconds remaining.

Brown finished with 14 points for Hutchinson. Jada Mickens had 10 and Dejanae Roebuck had nine.

The Blue Dragons were 8 of 25 from 3-point range.

Erna Normil had 16 points to lead Southwestern Florida State.

Hutch trailed 14-11 after the first quarter, but outscored the Buccaneers 17-9 in the second stanza to lead 28-24 at halftime

Hutchinson returns to conference play on Wednesday against Cowley at 5:30 p.m. in Arkansas City.