The Hutchinson Community College women’s basketball team held an opponent to less the 36-percent shooting with at least 20 turnovers for the fifth time in six games on Saturday as the third-ranked Lady Dragons knocked off South Plains College 76-53 on the final day of the Seward County Billy’s/Days Inn Classic at the Green House.
Hutchinson moved to 6-0 to start a season for the 14th time and got some revenge on South Plains, which last year handed the Lady Dragons their first loss of the season on the same Green House floor.
HCC held South Plains (1-4) to 35.8 percent shooting (19 of 53) and forced 20 turnovers. Hutch cashed in 32 points from those turnovers.
Sophomore Laura Patrick led four Hutchinson players in double figures with 15 points to go with four rebounds and four assists.
Redshirt freshman Jasmine Patterson finished with 12 points. Freshman Aja Sorrells had 12 points and sophomore Chelsea Small had 10 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
Sophomore Alysse Barlow scored all eight of her points in the second half. She added five assists.
The Lady Dragons shot 48.4 percent for the game (31 of 64), including 3 of 15 from 3-point range and 11 of 19 from the free-throw line. HCC trimmed its own turnovers in half from Friday’s win over Frank Phillips with 10. The Lady Dragons had a 42-35 rebounding advantage. Sophomore Jackie Patterson had a team-high eight rebounds.
After being shut out one night earlier by Seward County, South Plains’ leading scorer Ashley Roberts had 19 points on 6 of 19 shooting, including 3 of 11 from 3-point range to lead the Texans. Stephanie Moore had nine points and 10 rebounds.
South Plains was 19 of 53 shooting, including 5 of 19 from 3-point range and 10 of 19 from the foul line.
The Lady Dragons shot better than 50 percent for most of the first half. Leading 7-5, HCC had an 8-0 run over a 3-minute stretch to lead 15-5 after a Kara Lee three-point play. The lead was pushed to 14 after a Jackie Patterson bucket with 6:43 to play gave the Lady Dragons a 25-11 lead. It reached 20 points for the first time on a Patrick 3-pointer with 2:33 to play to make it 34-14.
HCC led 38-21 at halftime after Roberts hit an off-balance baseline jumper at the buzzer for South Plains.
South Plains opened the second half on a 14-6 run to pull within 44-35 on a Kayla Turner 3-point goal. The Lady Dragons responded with an 8-0 run and led 52-35 on a Patrick jumper.
Two Roberts free throws got South Plains within 12 once again at 60-48 with 4:40 to play. The Lady Dragons closed the game out on a 16-5 run, holding the Texans to only two field goals in the last five minutes. South Plains shot only 2 of 8 down the stretch,
The Lady Dragons will meet Division II, No. 2 Johnson County and Lamar Community College on Friday and Saturday at the Sports Arena in the Ramada Thanksgiving Classic.
GAME NOTES – South Plains’ 35.8 percent shooting percentage was the highest for an opponent this season against HCC. … The Lady Dragons had 11 steals with a team-high three from Alysse Barlow. … The Lady Dragon bench outscored South Plains’ 33-6. …HCC is 2-1 all time vs. South Plains. … Chelsea Small has scored in double figures in all six games this season.