PARK CITY – The second-ranked Hutchinson Community College women’s basketball team survived a turnover-prone game to advance in the 2012 Region VI Tournament quarterfinals with a 69-45 victory over Labette at Hartman Arena.
Hutchinson shot less than 40 percent for only the third time this season, shooting 35.3 percent and was a frigid 29 percent in the first half. Added to the shooting woes, the Lady Dragons turned the ball over 15 times.
But HCC’s league-leading defense was again strong, holding Labette to just 30.4 percent shooting and shut out the Cardinals from 3-point range in seven attempts. HCC forced 27 Labette turnovers.
Through it all, the Lady Dragons (31-0) advanced to the Region VI semifinals for the fourth-straight season and will meet Jayhawk West rival Cloud County at 3 p.m. on Monday at Hartman Arena.
Hutchinson tied a team record with its 31st victory over the season, tying the 2009 Region VI championship team for that mark. The HCC sophomores also set a new team record for victories by a sophomore class with 61
Sophomore Jackie Patterson posted her seventh double-double of the season and 13th of her career with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Five Lady Dragons scored in double figures. Sophomore Kara Lee had 11 points and seven rebounds. Sophomore Laura Patrick had 10 points with a career-high-tying six assists and a career-high four blocked shots.
Freshman Kelsey Webber tied a career high with 10 points and provided a needed offensive spark with two 3-point goals. Redshirt freshman Jasmine Patterson had 10 points. Sophomore Chelsea Small had seven points and a team-high 11 rebounds.
The Lady Dragons shot 24 of 69 overall, only 9 of 31 in the first half. HCC was 5 of 15 from 3-point range and 16 of 25 from the foul line. HCC had a slight 45-44 rebounding advantage.
Shawnee Phillips scored 15 points to lead the Cardinals (11-21). Breanna Robinson had 10 points and 15 rebounds. Chamiya Reaves, the Jayhawk Conference’s leading scorer was held to eight points on 3 of 13 shooting.
The Cardinals were 17 of 56 shooting and 0 of 7 from 3-point range. Labette hit 11 of 18 free throws.
HCC missed its first seven shots of the game before Patterson got the Lady Dragons on the board for the first time at the 16:41 mark of the first half. The lead changed hands only twice in the game. Patrick’s 3-pointer with 15:51 to play gave Hutchinson a 7-4 advantage and the lead for good.
Hutchinson held Labette without a field goal for nearly 7 full minutes in slowly building a 12-5 lead with 12:51 to play. A Jasmine Patterson basket pushed the HCC lead to 17-7 with 8:59 to play, but the Cardinals scored seven unanswered to pull within 17-14 with 6:52 to play.
Leading 19-16, the Lady Dragons went on an 8-2 run over the final 4:55 to close a tough first half that saw HCC shoot 29 percent with seven turnovers in building a 27-18 halftime lead.
The HCC lead dwindled to 30-24 with 17:15 to play, but HCC went on a 10-2 run to lead 40-26 with 14:43 to play after a Jackie Patterson score. The lead was still 12 with 12:34 to play, but back-to-back buckets by Small and a Jasmine Patterson hoop pushed the Lady Dragon lead to 50-32 and a Webber 3-pointer moved the lead to 19 at 53-34 with 9:58 to play.
GAME NOTES – HCC is now 40-32 in the Region VI Tournament, 1-1 vs. Labette in postseason play. … HCC is now 12-5 vs. Labette all time. … This was the 29th time in 31 games that HCC had held an opponent to less than 40 percent shooting. … Alysse Barlow tied Cindy Dreier (1979-81) for 18th on the career scoring list with 733 points. … Barlow tied Jenny Whetstone (1988-90) for third on the career assist list with 286. … Jackie Patterson tied Blessing Uba for third on the single-season blocked shots list with 39. … Chelseas Small tied a career high with three steals. … HCC had a 33-6 scoring advantage in points off the bench.
(HCC Sports Information)