Fourth quarter woes send Barton women to loss at Seward County #GoBarton

The Barton Community College women's basketball team found themselves on the wrong end of a 27-16 fourth quarter Wednesday evening as the Cougars fell to Seward County Community College, 59-53, at the Greenhouse.

Limiting its 18 first half turnovers to just two in the third quarter and picking up the defensive intensity, the Cougars erased a three point halftime deficit into a five point, 37-32 lead heading into the final frame outscoring the Saints 12-4, while holding Seward County to just 1-for-22 shooting in the quarter.

The tide quickly turned in favor of Seward County over the final 10-minutes scoring the opening five points before answering with an 8-0 run following Vivian Onugha's 1-of-2 trip at the line capping Barton's 5-0 response for their final lead of 43-39 with 7:04 to play, with the final separation needed coming in the final minute behind a 7-2 run.

The loss drops the Cougars to 1-6 in conference play and 5-8 on the season while the Saints snap a four-game losing streak in the series improving to 4-2 in league play and 9-3 overall.

Next up for Barton is the final game of the pre-holiday break on Saturday with a 1:00 p.m. tip at No. 5 Dodge City Community College.

Regina Donanu led a trio in double figures, scoring 16 of her game high 18 points in first half action for a new career high while adding four rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Hampered by first half foul trouble, Onugha scored nine of her 10 points in second half action while hauling in 13 rebounds for her second straight and ninth double-double of the season.

Brittany Simpson flirted with her first collegiate double-double scoring all her points with Barton's final 10 points on the night to go along with a career best nine rebound effort.

The Cougars finished at 35.5-percent from the floor but 1-of-12 from the three-point line plus 27 turnovers ultimately led to a plus 23-point Saints advantage.

Able to overcome a 4.5% third quarter field goal percentage, the Saints finished at 26.8-percent on the night and 19.4-percent from behind the arch.

Two Saints put up double-figures led by Kylee Hunt's 16 points, two assists and two steals as Avery Marchino added 10 points.