Hutch women fall in NJCAA final
Chipola (Fla.) beat Hutchinson 54-46 in the championship game of the women’s NJCAA tournament on Saturday night in Salina, handing the Blue Dragons their first loss of the season.
Chipola built a 15-point lead early in the second half, and Hutchinson spent the rest of the game trying to claw its way back. A three-pointer by Alyx Bllom and a layup by Kalani Purcell pulled Hutch within 49-43 with 1:51 left in the game, but had to commit four fouls before sending Chipola to the free-throw line with 56 seconds left. Suetterrica Key missed the free throw, but Hutch committed a turnover 15 seconds later, and was unable to cut the deficit under six points the rest of the way.
Bloom led Hutchinson with 14 points. Purcell and Clemence LeFebvre scored 11 points apiece. Key had a game-high 20 for Chipola, which won its first national championship.
Hutchinson (36-1) lost in the tournament championship game for the third time in four seasons. The Blue Dragons finished third last year.
CHIPOLA (34-1): Julien 2-9 0-0 6, Akhator 4-7 1-3 10, Gilmore 2-16 0-0 4, Key 6-18 5-7 20, Martin 3-4 1-2 10, Lindsey 2-5 0-0 4. Totals 19-59 7-12 54.
HUTCHINSON (36-1): Purcell 5-16 1-2 11, LeFebvre 3-12 4-5 11, Harding 2-6 0-0 4, Petke 3-10 0-0 6, Bllom 5-7 2-2 14, Madden 0-1 0-0 0, Jones 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 18-52 7-9 46.
Halftime — Chipola 24-17. 3-pointers — Chipola 9-28 (Martin 3-4, Key 3-11, Julien 2-8, Akhator 1-2, Gilmore 0-3), Hutch 3-15 (Bloom 2-4, LeFebvre 1-8, Purcell 0-1, Harding 0-2). Rebounds — Chipola 37 (Akhator 14), Hutch 38 (Purcell 18). Assists — Chipola 9 (Gilmore 5), Hutch 13 (Purcell 6). Fouls — Chipola 10, Hutch 13.
This story was originally published March 21, 2015 at 10:11 PM with the headline "Hutch women fall in NJCAA final."