WASHINGTON —
Tuesday night at the Hatchet House was physical, bloody, tense and it all added up to a Washington victory.
The Lady Hatchets (12-5) defeated Mitchell (11-4) 65-49 Tuesday evening for their fourth consecutive win.
Washington used a 9-0 run to take an early 13-5 lead, before settling for a 13-10 advantage after the first quarter. The physical play that would be a trademark of Tuesday night's game saw senior Hannah Mason leave the game temporarily after taking a hard elbow to her upper lip causing her to lose some blood.
In the second quarter, Washington used that physicality to its advantage by outscoring the Blue Jackets 21-11 in the to push the lead to 34-21 at halftime. Washington junior forward Ally Hunsinger scored 13 of her 24 points in the quarter.
Washington continued to operate as a well-oiled machine offensively as they pushed the lead to 47-30. Mitchell scored the quarter's final five points to cut the lead to 12, and give themselves hope of a comeback. That hope, however, was short lived. The Hatchets opened the quarter with an 8-0 run to push the lead to 20, a game high, at 55-35.
Mitchell answered with four points in a row, but a Hunsinger 3-pointer stretched the lead back to 19. The 16-point victory signaled a quality win over a good opponent for Washington coach Gretchen Miles. In addition to Hunsinger's 24 points, Audra Stallman scored 17 points, and Lupe Perez added 13.
"We knew looking at their schedule with a couple of losses to great teams, this would help poise a test for us this evening," Miles said. "I thought the girls did a great job of coming out and playing hard and playing smart on both ends of the court. We're getting more kids in double digit scoring, which is a positive for us." The game got a little chippy in the second half when the margin got larger.
Mia Burton was called for an intentional foul against Audra Stallman. Audra Lane caught Danielle Pruett with an elbow in the face to also draw an intentional foul.
"We look out there, and Hannah Mason's lip is completely annihilated, with possible stitches, and she kind of whispers to me, 'Hey coach, I think I'm bleeding," Miles said. "Blood is just pouring out of her mouth, so we're trying to get her out. Just the tough mentality, they just want to get out there and play." Next up for Washington is a road game at Owen Valley (12-3) where the Hatchets will see if they can continue this hot streak, and win their fifth straight game. Washington only has three games remaining in the regular season.
"Owen Valley is another great opponent," Miles said. "I don't think they have lost a game in a while, their record is very similar to Mitchell, and we're going to Owen Valley on Thursday night. That always is a test to be able to play on the road."
MITCHELL 10 11 14 14 49
WASHINGTON 13 21 13 18 65
Mitchell (49)- Perkins 4 1-3 3 9, Howe 1 1-2 2 4, Burton 6 1-2 1 16, Hall 1
0-0 1 2, Mann 3 0-1 3 6, 2 2-2 3 7, Collins 2 0-0 2 4. Totals 19 5-10 15 49.
Washington (65) - Lane 2 3-4 3 7, Perez 5 3-3 3 12, 6 5-6 2 17, Hunsinger 8
4-6 1 24, Mason 0 2-4 2 2, Mahan 0 2-2 0 2, Jones 0 0-0 1 0. Totals 21 19-25
12 65.
3-point goals: Mitchell 4 (Burton 3, Howe), Washington 4 (Hunsinger).
Junior Varsity: Mitchell 35 (Jelsey Redman 11), Washington 31 (Carrie Lane 13).
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