In an otherwise evenly played game Saturday afternoon at the Barton Gym, a myriad of second quarter mistakes proved to be the difference maker as the 18th ranked Barton Community College women's basketball team fell 79-65 to 13th ranked Dodge City Community College.
Trailing by one into the second frame, the Cougars committed seven turnovers and fell apart defensively with the Conquistadors shooting a light's out 73.3% in the quarter in putting Barton into a thirteen point halftime deficit.
Snapping Barton's ten game streak of holding an opponent under 60 points, the 27 point Dodge City quarter matched the Cougars' most points given up in a quarter since November 8 against Neosho County.
Despite the loss, Barton remains in second place of the conference standings but is now tied with Butler after the first go-around of the conference slate at 9-3 and slipping to 15-3 overall. Dodge City improves to a league leading 11-1 and 16-2 on the season.
Next up for Barton is Wednesday's home 5:30 p.m. contest against Garden City Community College as the Busters will be looking for revenge after dropping a 79-65 home defeat to the Cougars back on November 16.
Acorionna Lard was the offensive standout for the Cougars in dropping a career high 27 points to lead all players and dished out six of the team's eight assists. Jenny Nkem Womsi led Barton's plus-2 rebound edge with 12 boards to eclipse the 10-rebound mark for the 16th time in eighteen games. Held to nine points amongst the Conquistadors' constant double, and sometimes triple team defense, Womsi' streak of five straight double-doubles came to an end.
The Conquistadors' outstanding defense was one part of the mix while on the offensive end Dodge City stayed hot during the night except a lull in the third quarter, finishing at 52.5%. The hot shooting night included 9-of-19 beyond the arc for a nine point difference while countless slashes to the hole taking advantage of Barton's defensive breakdowns added another sixteen point difference in points in the paint.
Leah Mafua led four Conquistadors in double figures with 17 points with Bree Stephens canning 4-of-7 beyond the arc for 16 points. Jada Burton dished out 7 of the Conquistadors' 12 assists to add to her 14 points while Paris Santacaterina came off the bench to add 10 points.