Cougars pull away from Pratt for 98-53 win; 20-3 on the season
The Barton County Community College women's basketball team breezed to another easy win in Jayhawk West play, pulling away from a pesky Pratt team for a 98-53 win in Pratt Saturday night at Lesh Arena. The win moved Barton to 20-3 overall this season and 8-1 in the Jayhawk West, the 2nd best mark in the conference behind unbeaten and No. 3 ranked Seward County – the only team to beat the Cougars in West play this year. The 20-win season is the 3rd in Coach Lane Lord's 3 seasons at the helm of the Cougars. Pratt falls to 3-20 overall this season and 1-8 in the West with the loss. Barton will be at home against Dodge City Wednesday to take on the Conquistadors in a 6 pm tip.

Highlights
Pratt, a 101-36 loser in Great Bend, led the Cougars 11-10 early in the contest and were hanging with Barton a good portion of the opening half. Barton led just 31-23 with 8 minute left in the opening half, but much like the Cougars road win at Colby, put the game away with a big run to the 1st half. In the final 8 minutes of action, Barton outscored the Beavers 20-5 to grab a 51-28 halftime lead on Pratt.

The lead reached the 30-point mark at 67-37 with 13 minutes to play in the game and the 40-point mark with 5 minutes left at 88-47. Barton's biggest lead in the half was at 47 points in the final minute of the game.

The Cougars were paced by 6-5 freshman Inga Muciniece with 21 points and 16 rebounds. It was her 10th double-double of the season and the 7th in 10 West games. Muciniece is averaging 16 points and 13 rebounds in conference action this season. Andrea Barber, the team's leading scorer on the season at 14.3 a game, added 18 points and a team-leading 7 assists. Ipek Turkylimaz was 5-of-7 on 3-pointers in the contest, tossing in 15 points. LaToya Jackson and Gwen Edwards each added 10 as 5 Cougars found double figures. Pratt was led by Sacha Crosby with 12.

Barton hit 51 percent from the floor in the win and out-rebounded the Beavers 55-28. The Cougars racked up 56 points in the paint and 31 points off turnovers.

Barton will play host to Dodge (8-15, 2-7) Wednesday before a big showdown in Concordia Saturday when the Cougars travel to No. 5 ranked Cloud County. The Thunderbirds (21-2, 7-2) were beaten by Barton earlier this year in Great Bend, 96-93.

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

Next
Wed, Feb 7 – v Dodge, 6 pm (Jayhawk West play at the Barton Gym in Great Bend)