Barton falls at Seward in West action
The Barton Community College women's basketball team wrapped up a rugged 2-game road swing to open Jayhawk West action with an 82-75 loss to Seward County at the Green House in Liberal Wednesday night. Barton stands at 0-2 on the season after road losses at Cloud County and Seward – traditional West powers with a combined 28-4 record this season. Barton is now 10-6 overall this year while Seward improves to 14-2. The Cougars will finally return home – where they have played just 5 games this year season – for Barton's West home opener Saturday against Dodge City. The game will tip at 6 pm.
Highlights
The Cougars and Saints traded the lead 9 times during the contest with 5 ties – most of that in a back-and-forth 1st half. The final tie of the game came at 37-all a couple of minutes into the 2nd half. That, ironically, is when a quick 12-2 run by Seward over 2 1/2 minutes of play proved to be the difference in the game. Seward grabbed a 51-39 with 15:34 left thanks to 3 3-pointers during the span.
Seward maintained a comfortable lead until Barton reeled off a 9-0 run at the midway point of the half. Down 61-50, Annie Kassongo started the run with a bucket in the paint and Michelle White followed with a pair of free throws the Cougars' next trip down the court. Kristine Silaraja made it 61-57 with a trey and 2 Jordi James free throws cut the Seward lead to 61-59 with 8:25 to play. Barton never got closer than that but stayed within striking distance until the final minute.
Silaraja led Barton with 15 points followed by White and Danielle Bird with 14. For Bird it was a career high effort in her freshman season. James grabbed a career high 14 rebounds in the contest and Bird added a career high 9 boards. In her 1st extended playing time since becoming eligible at the semester break, Kassongo scored 4 points, grabbed 6 rebounds and blocked 3 shots in 13 of minutes of play. Rachel Barnes scored 17 to pace Seward followed by Amanda Pierson with 14 and Nadia Rosario with 12.
Barton will be at home for the 1st time since Nov 22 when the Cougars host Dodge City Saturday night. The Conquistadors have struggled to start conference action, dropping its 1st 2 contests of the season including a 102-32 loss to Hutch Wednesday night. The Conquistadors are 4-12 for the season.
Stats
Stats can be found at www.bartonccc.edu/sports
Next
Jan 10 – v Dodge 6 pm (Jayhawk West contest at the Barton Gym in Great Bend)