Hutchinson women win first NJCAA DI basketball national championship

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – The Hutchinson Community College women’s basketball team outscored defending national champion Northwest Florida State 19-11 in overtime, winning the program’s first national championship with an 88-80 victory on Monday in Casper, Wyoming.

Trailing by six points with 2:32 to play in the fourth quarter, the top-seeded Blue Dragons were able to force overtime and then dominate to win.

In overtime, Akaysha Muggeridge, Hailey Jackson and  Kiki Smith scored on consecutive possessions for a 77-71 lead and upped the lead to eight at 81-73 on a Muggeridge hoop with 1:18 to go. The Blue Dragons were 6 of 6 shooting from the floor and 7 of 10 from the foul line in overtime. Northwest Florida State was 5 of 12.

The Blue Dragons completed their 50th season with an undefeated 37-0 record.