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Lady Dragons get out quick in win

LADY DRAGONS GET OUT QUICK, DEFEAT SCOTTSDALE TO OPEN ARIZONA TRIP
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Powered by a 25-point effort from sophomore guard Jamie Patrick, Hutchinson Community College women's basketball coach John Ontjes moved within one victory of 200 coaching wins as the No. 3-ranked Lady Dragons rolled past Scottsdale 80-51 on Thursday at the Scottsdale Community College Gym.
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The Lady Dragons (13-0) held Scottsdale to just five first goals in the first half in building a 46-15 lead in their first game played since Dec. 14. With its largest lead of 33 points late in the first half, the Lady Dragons saw their advantage to as few at 14 points with just more than 7 minutes remaining in the game. HCC closed the game with a 21-6 run.
Patrick knocked down 4 of 6 from 3-point range and 9 of 14 shots overall to produce her second-highest scoring game of her career to lead Hutchinson. She added six rebounds, three steals and a pair of assists. Patrick became the 26th player in team history to reach 700 career points. With 714 points, Patrick is now 22nd on the career list.
Three players scored in double figures to lead Hutchinson. Freshman Shakira Harding was 6 of 9 shooting to finish with 13 points and she tied a season high with eight rebounds, five assists and two steals.
Sophomore Briana Starks had 11 points and seven rebounds. Sophomore Kiarra Jones and freshman Kalani Purcell had nine points each. Sophomore Jen'Von'Ta Hill had eight points.
The Lady Dragons were 32 of 68 overall (47.1 percent), including 6 of 17 from 3-point range and 10 of 16 from the free-throw line. HCC out-rebounded Scottsdale 42-21, pulling down 20 offensive rebounds. The Lady Dragons turned the ball over 14 times this season.
Scottsdale's Shaylin Heredia became the fourth opponent this season to have four 3-point goals against HCC. She led the Fighting Artichokes with 19 points. Alyssa Camacho had 11 points and nine rebounds.
Scottsdale (3-10) became only the second team this season to shoot better than 40 percent, but was the 115th consecutive foe to shoot less than 50 percent against Hutchinson. The Artichokes were 17 of 42 from the field overall (40.5 percent), but shot 54.5 percent (12 of 22) in the second half. SCC hit 5 of its 6 3-pointers in the second half. The Artichokes were 10 of 12 from the foul line.
Scottsdale had 25 turnovers in which the Lady Dragons cashed into 30 points.
The Lady Dragons ran out to a 16-2 lead in the first 4 minutes, 45 seconds of the game. The lead reached 20 for the first time when Starks scored to give HCC a 27-6 lead with 10:35 to play in the first half. Leading 40-13, the Lady Dragons held Scottsdale to just two free throws over the final 4:43 of the opening half and took a 46-15 lead at halftime.
The Fighting Artichokes started hitting 3-pointers in the second half, knocking down 6 of 11 in the final 20 minutes. After only five field goals in the first half, Scottsdale hit its fifth second half field goal at the 14:39 mark of the second half.
Trailing 52-20 with 17:28 to play, Scottsdale's long-range barrage keyed a 25-7 run to pull within59-45 after a Kayla Miranda layup with 7:30 remaining in the second half. Starks turned the momentum back to the Lady Dragons with a tremendous individual effort. After stealing the ball in the backcourt, Starks took the ball up the floor by herself and made an athletic move to the hoop to score for a 61-45 lead with 6:05 to play.
That play started a 21-6 run to close out the game. HCC scored the final 10 points of the game and Scottsdale had just one field goal over the final 7:30 of the game.
The Lady Dragons will get a stern test from Division II, No. 9 Mesa at 6 p.m. CST on Friday. Mesa was the NJCAA Division II national runner-up last season.
GAME NOTES - The Lady Dragons won their 48th-straight regular-season non-conference game. … HCC is now 2-0 all-time vs. Scottsdale. … Jamie Patrick is now alone in ninth place on the career 3-point list with 91. … HCC is now 15-3 all-time in holiday games. … Scottsdale's 21 rebounds were an opponent season low against HCC this season. … Briana Starks tied a season high with three steals. ... This was Hutchinson's first true road game this season. HCC is 2-0 on neutral floors.
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