Lady Cougar basketball knocks off No. 17 Arizona Western College in overtime to open season

The Barton Community College women's basketball team opened the 2013-14 season knocking off No. 17 Arizona Western College in overtime 78-74 Friday in day one of the Highland Hotel and Pizza Hut Classic at the Barton Gym.  Leading by nine and holding the Matadors to twenty-five percent first half shooting, the Lady Cougars fought back from a late five point deficit to force the extra frame.  Barton then knocked down seven of ten from the free throw line in overtime to outscore the Matadors 11-7 to capture the victory.  The Lady Cougars will next play McCook Community College in the 5:30 p.m. game Saturday while Arizona Western will take on Cloud County Community College in the 1:00 p.m. game.

Ashton Bruner led five Lady Cougars in double-digit scoring with eighteen points and tied for team honors with nine rebounds and five assists.  Brandy Winbush knocked down 5-of-9 three pointers to finish with fifteen, none bigger than her right baseline trey to tie the game with twenty-six seconds to play to force overtime.  Like Bruner, Taylor Mayes just missed a double-double dropping fourteen points while grabbing nine boards.  Kaila Brantner led the Cougars at the point guard position scoring ten points and dishing out five assists.

Stephanie Schmid led three Arizona Western players in double-digits with twenty.  Chantal Thomas score fifteen and dished out a team high five assists while Jazmin Strane recorded a double-double performance with thirteen points and ten rebounds.

In the first game of the Highland Hotel and Pizza Hut Classic, Cloud County easily dispatched McCook Community College 111-57.  Agnese Aramina led five T-birds in double digits with twenty-four while Courtney Fisher was close behind with twenty-threee.  Jordyn Alexander added fifteen while leading in rebounds with eight.  Raneisha Duncan and Kimi Lindshield each scored eleven while Jayna Smith and Linda Pagrode led in assists with eight each.  

Cydnee Ceballos led McCook is scoring with twenty-three points and six rebounds while also tying Janessa Newman for the team lead in assists with three.  Ashle Stokes also reached double figures adding ten.