Cougars survive Cowley in overtime for road win

Cougars survive Cowley in overtime for road win
The Barton County Community College women's basketball team grew up a bit Tuesday night in Arkansas City, surviving an overtime thriller, beating Cowley County by an 82-77 score. It was the 1st time in 3 seasons under Coach Lane Lord the Cougars beat the Tigers during the regular season, losing the previous 2 meetings. Barton did knock off Cowley in the playoffs the only time the two teams have met in post season under Coach Lord. Barton improves to 4-2 with the road win while Cowley falls to 3-3. Barton will host the Pepsi Classic this weekend, playing at 6 pm both Friday and Saturday.

Highlights
Barton won the contest despite hitting just 31 percent from the floor and scoring just 17 points off turnovers. The points off turnovers are usually a staple in the Barton formula for a win. Nevertheless, Barton did what it had to, including keeping it's cool after a 3-pointer in the final seconds of regulation by Cowley sent the game to overtime after Barton led much of the way.

The Cougars trailed just once during the 1st half and held that lead for the opening stages of the 2nd half as well until a run by the Tigers gave Cowley the advantage. Trailing 38-35, Cowley went on a 10-0 run to take a 45-38 lead with 12 minutes left in the game. But the Cougars didn't quit. Andrea Barber knocked down a jumper in the lane and LaToya Jackson hit a 3-pointer and Barton was in the contest, trailing 45-43 in less than one minute. Barton recaptured the lead and led by as many as 8 late in the game after a Gwen Edwards layup for a 66-58 lead with 1:07 to play. A pair of Barton turnovers in the final minute coupled with a pair of 3-pointers by Cowley evened the score at 69-all to end regulation. Regulation ended when Natasa Draganic came off the Cowley bench for her 1st appearance of the game and hit a 3-pointer with 4 seconds left to tie the game. Jackson's desperation half court missed at the buzzer for Barton.

Cowley carried that momentum into overtime, where the Tigers bolted to a 73-69 in the opening 2 minutes of regulation. That is when Barber took over for Barton. Barber hit 2 free throws and followed the next trip down with a 3-pointer to give Barton a 74-73 lead. An Edwards follow of her own miss made it 76-73 with less than 2 minutes to play. Barber then made 4 straight free throws for the Cougars in the final 1:10 – hitting the final 2 with 11 seconds left – to give Barton an 80-77 lead. After a 3-pointer by Cowley missed, Edwards corralled the rebound and was fouled with 2 seconds to play, hitting both free throws for the final margin of 82-77.

It was a career night for Barber as she scored a career-high 29 points in the contest, hitting 3 3-pointers and a calm 14-of-16 free throws. Of those frees, Barber was 9-of-10 in the final minute of regulation and overtime. She added 3 steals as well. Edwards matched her career high with 20 points and grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds in her 1st season at Barton. Jackson, a freshman, was also big with 12 points – including the big 3 after Barton fell behind by 7. Lindsey Davis led Cowley with 19.

Stats
Full stats can be found at www.bartonccc.edu/sports

Next
Fri, Nov 17 – v McLennan (Texas), 6 pm (Pepsi Classic at the Barton Gym) 
Sat, Nov 18 – v Kansas Wesleyan JV, 6 pm (Pepsi Classic at the Barton Gym)