Friday was just not the night for the Barton Community College women's basketball team as the Lady Cougars dropped an 87-75 contest to Otero Junior College at the Barton Gym in the opening night of the Best Western Angus Inn and Cougar Booster Club Classic. Having defeated the Wranglers on their home floor 91-88 in overtime back on November 15, the Barton never led in the contest and was held to a season low shooting percentage. The loss snapped Barton's seven game win streak dropping the Lady Cougars to 7-2 while Otero improves to 5-5 on the season. Barton will have a tough rebound game on Saturday versus Independence Community College, as the Lady Pirates knocked off Butler Community College 79-74 in the earlier women's game of the Classic.
Phikala Anthony led four Lady Cougars in double-digits scoring nineteen and a team high three steals to with seven rebounds. Providing a spark off the bench, Indiah Cauley reached double figures for the third straight game going 8-of-8 from the charity stripe to finish with fourteen. Brandi Williams led a 48-40 Barton advantage on the boards with eight to go along with twelve points while Katrina Roenfeldt finished with ten. Dominique Baker led Barton in assists with five.
Otero also placed four players in double figures led by the all-around play of Celia Garcia-Paunero. The Spainard sophomore scored twenty-two points while also leading the Lady Wranglers with seven rebounds, four assists, three steals, and two blocks. Haley Martinez was close behind in most categories finishing with nineteen points, six rebounds three assists, and two steals. Macy Meyers and Elin Ekdahl rounded out the double-digit scoring with fifteen a piece.
