The Garden City Telegram

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Rally falls short for Lady Busters, 69-57

Published 2/8/2010 in Sports

By BRAD HALLIER

Special to The Telegram

HUTCHINSON — The dreadful feeling of déjà vu was evident Saturday at the Sports Arena for the Hutchinson Community College women.

The 18th-ranked Blue Dragons led Garden City by 17 points early in the second half. With 8 minutes, 16 seconds left, the Broncbusters trailed by six, and Garden City was closing in on its second double-digit comeback win against Hutch this season.

Not quite this time. Thanks in part to just nine turnovers, the Blue Dragons stopped the rally and came away with a 69-57 triumph over the Lady Busters.

"I was kind of nervous, really," said sophomore forward Heather Robben, who had a game-high 24 points. "They were making baskets again, like last time. It was kind of scary."

Hutchinson (22-3, 9-2) also had to overcome Garden City's massive rebounding edge. For just the third time this season, the Blue Dragons were out-rebounded as the Broncbusters had 46 to Hutchinson's 34 thanks in part to 10 boards by GCCC's 6-3 freshman center Marisela Rodriguez who also had 21 points.

But the Blue Dragons compensated with their second fewest turnovers of the season, and winning for the first time while being out-rebounded.

"I'm not concerned with the rebounding margin," HCC coach John Ontjes said. "We're a good rebounding team. We played another good rebounding team tonight. But what I was pleased with was they had 25 turnovers and we had just nine."

But it didn't always seem the Blue Dragons would be able to celebrate their seventh straight win. On Jan. 18, Hutchinson seemed to have a comfortable 14-point lead with 11 minutes to play, but Garden City stormed back for a 56-52 win.

Saturday, Hutchinson led 29-21 at halftime and then scored the first nine points of the second half, leading 38-21 with 17:25 left.

While Garden City (11-13, 7-3) did make the game interesting, coach Alaura Sharp wasn't happy with the way the second half started.

"It did feel a little like the same thing last time, but I was disappointed the way we came out in the second half," Sharp said. "I was disappointed in the effort and we didn't make the adjustments we talked about at halftime. We played hard and rebounded well, but we did not play smart at the offensive end."

After freshman guard Blessing Uba, who had 12 points and nine second-half rebounds, gave Hutch its biggest lead at that 17:25 mark, Garden City went back to what worked most of the first half. Freshman center Marisela Rodriguez, who got her 21 points on 9 of 14 shooting, scored Garden City's second-half basket with 16:49 left. She scored again 29 seconds later, and when Rodriguez made a free throw with 8:16 left, Hutchinson's lead was down to 46-40.

"She's real lengthy," HCC sophomore forward Ariella McGhee said of Rodriguez. "She's tall and she knows how to put the ball up when she gets in position."

That free throw, however, would be Rodriguez's final point.

Freshman guard Britney Nuzum, like she did in Monday's win against Seward County, halted the momentum with a big 3-pointer with 7:38 left. And then after an Aileen Gonzalez basket, Hutchinson went on a 9-1 run with Uba scoring six points. McGhee added a basket for two of her 12 points to go with 11 rebounds, her eighth double-double of the season and 26th of her collegiate career.

It was interesting for awhile, but no comeback this time for the Broncbusters

"(Assistant coach Travis) Kirk said in a timeout that it feels like the game in Garden City again," Ontjes said. "Eight minutes to go, and they were making their run. The difference was we didn't turn the ball over this time and we made some free throws."

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Hutchinson 69, Garden City 57

GARDEN CITY (11-13, 7-3) — Freeman 1-4 0-0 2, Gonzalez 0-1 2-2 2, Robins 2-7 5-7 10, Troup 1-3 0-2 2, Abbott 5-12 0-0 14, Rodriguez 9-14 3-5 21, Naylor 2-7 0-0 4, Mays 0-4 2-4 2. Totals 20-52 12-20 57.

HUTCHINSON (22-3, 9-2) — Hirsh 1-2 0-0 2, Robben 6-16 10-12 24, Dreiling 0-0 0-0 0, McGhee 5-8 2-6 12, King 0-0 0-0 0, Uba 3-12 6-8 12, Armitage 0-0 0-0 0, Campbell 2-6 4-5 8, Sander 1-3 0-0 2, Nuzum 3-8 1-3 9, Punch 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 21-58 23-34 69.

Halftime score — Hutchinson 29-21. 3-point goals — Garden City 5-15 (Abbott 4-9, Robins 1-3, Gonzalez 0-1, Naylor 0-2). Hutchinson 4-10 (Nuzum 2-4, Robben 2-5, Sander 0-1). Rebounds — Garden City 46 (Rodriguez 10), Hutchinson 34 (McGhee 11). Assists — Garden City 14 (Abbott 5), Hutchinson 12 (Uba 4). Turnovers — Garden City 25, Hutchinson 9. Total fouls — Garden City 27, Hutchinson 20. Fouled out — Garden City (Troup).

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