Closing out the first half on an 18-2 run propelled the Barton Community College women's basketball team to its sixth victory of the season defeating Hesston College 64-52 Wednesday night in Hesston, Kansas. Barton broke open a 12-all tie with seven minutes remaining to lead by sixteen at the break stretching the lead to twenty-three early in the second to stay unbeaten on the season at 6-0 while dropping Hesston to 1-4. This weekend the Lady Cougars will head to Chanute, Kansas, to participate in the Neosho Hoops Classic. Barton will open play at 12:30 p.m. Friday taking on Allen Community College then wrap up the Classic on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. against host Neosho County Community College. Both Lady Cougar games in the classic will be available to view live via the Barton Sports Network at www.BartonSports.com.
Barton started off slow on the night shooting only 14% in the game's first ten minutes. The Cougars began to heat up and get rolling with six minutes remaining as Brandy Winbush created a turnover leading to a Mariana Lambert to Taylor Mayes jumper in the paint. From that point on the Barton defense clamped down creating a pair of steals by reserve point guard Sharyce Warren and held Hesston to only two points via the charity stripe to lead 30-14 at the break.
The Lady Cougars increased the lead to twenty-three points by the sixteen minute mark in part to Taylor Mayes six points. Barton then got sloppy the next eight minutes with six turnovers and connecting on only one of ten shots to allow Hesston to creep to within twelve. The Lady Cougars answered with back-to-back three-pointers by Winbush and Lambert but got cold again making only 1-of-9 for the next seven minutes as Hesston cut the deficit to nine with thirty-seven seconds. But it was too little too late for the Larks as Phikala Anthony and Winbush converted 3-of-4 free throws to seal the twelve point victory.
Cheyenne Hedrington led three Lady Cougars in double-digit scoring with eighteen points on 7-of-14 shooting from the floor to go along with seven rebounds and tying a team high four assists. Ashton Bruner had a monster night on the boards collecting seventeen while also posting her first double-double of the season with thirteen points and tying Hedrington in assists with four. Taylor Mayes also had a solid night just missing out on a double-double by scoring ten points and grabbing nine boards. Sharyce Warren, who filled in for the injured Kailai Brantner, led the team in steals with four.
Morgan Cockrum was the lone Hesston player in double-figures scoring twelve. Makayla Ladwig and Nikki Lowry also had solid nights as each scored nine while grabbing a team high seven rebounds. Nikkita Lester led the Larks dishing out five assists while Ladwig led with four steals.