by HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Jasiene Garcia-Howell scored 13 points in her Blue Dragon debut as No. 11 Hutchinson opened its season with an 87-47 rout of Neosho County on Monday at the Sports Arena.
Garcia-Howell, a 6-foot freshman forward from Pawnee, Okla., shot 5-of-7 from the field, including a 3-pointer, and grabbed 5 rebounds.
Hutchinson trailed much of the first quarter — Neosho County led 12-5 with 4:16 to play — before tying it late on two Nicolly Sanches free throws and taking the lead for good on a Sanches putback with 11 seconds left, leading 17-15 after one quarter. The Blue Dragons then outscored the Panthers 70-32 over the final three quarters.
Sophomore point guard Whitney Brown led a balanced Hutchinson attack with 16 points, tying a career high with three 3-pointers, plus 6 assists and 3 rebounds, while Kaia Smith also scored 13 on 6-of-8 shooting with 6 rebounds. All 11 Blue Dragons who suited up scored.
Hutchinson shot 47.4 percent from the field, held Neosho County to 20.8 percent shooting, and out-rebounded the Panthers 54-38. The win was the Blue Dragons’ 12th straight season-opening victory and 12th straight over Neosho County; Hutchinson is now 1-0.
The Blue Dragons play South Plains on Friday, Nov. 6, and Connors State on Saturday, Nov. 7, in the BSN Sports Tip-off Classic at the Sports Arena.
