Barton takes 4-game winning streak to break with wins at Liberal
The Barton County Community College women's basketball team is headed to the Christmas Break on the right note after sweeping a pair of teams in the Pizza Hut Classic hosted by Seward County in Liberal this past weekend. Barton knocked off State Fair (Mo.) Friday afternoon and took care of Northeastern (Colo.) Saturday afternoon to run its winning streak to 4 games as it ready for conference play on Jan. 5. The Cougars defeated State Fair by an 87-52 score Friday then rolled by Northeastern 66-45 Saturday. Barton, now 10-4, will open Jayhawk West action against Pratt, who enters the break with a 13-1 mark.

Highlights
Barton appears to have disposed of those 2nd half troubles plaguing the team earlier this season. The Cougars used big 2nd halves to win in Liberal this weekend. After holding leads of 3 and 7 at intermission in their two wins, the Cougars outscored their foes by a combined 88-42 during the final 20 minutes in the two wins.

Friday afternoon Barton led State Fair (5-8) by a 38-35 score. The Cougars allowed the Roadrunners to shoot better than 47 percent from the floor and forced them into just 7 turnovers – two defensive aspects that are generally the backbone of the Cougars. Things were much better in the 2nd stanza. State Fair hit just 6-of-24 shots in the 2nd half for 25 percent and committed 10 turnovers as the Cougars outscored the Roadrunners by a 49-17 margin for the big win. Offensively it was one of the better efforts from Barton County this season. The 87 points tied for the most scored in a game this season and the 47 percent shooting was the 2nd highest effort. The 35 field goals made (35-of-74) also ties a season-best. Victoria Carlile, playing in her hometown of Liberal, led Barton with 21 points followed by Vivian Ewalefo and Brianna Buchanan with 11 each.

The Cougars had a tougher task to tackle Saturday in Northeastern, who entered the game with an 8-7 record. Much like the opening day, the Cougars were tough in the 2nd half of action. This time the 1st half was a defensive battle with Barton leading by a 27-20 score at intermission. The Cougars came out and went on a 13-0 run to start the 2nd half and take 40-20 lead on the Plainsmen. That lead grew to as many as 26 during the half while Northeastern never got closer than 17 following the 13-0 run to start the 2nd half. Buchanan led the Cougars with 16 points Carlile, Ewalefo, and Sunshine Uli each added 10 points. Uli and starting point guard Brittany Ridley – all 5-3 of her – paced the Cougars with 8 rebounds. Brandi Harris added 7 assist and Ridley 6 for Barton, which shot 47 percent in the 2nd half and 39 for the game.

Stats
Full box scores and stats can be found at www.bartonccc.edu/sports

Next
Wed., Jan. 5 – v. Pratt, 5:30 pm (Jayhawk West contest at Barton County Gym)