Barton splits games at Sunflower Bank Classic
The Barton Community College women's basketball team split a pair of games at the Sunflower Bank Classic this past weekend at the Barton Gym to begin the season with a 2-1 mark. The Cougars defeated New Mexico Junior College Friday, 69-48 then saw its home court winning streak end at 22 games Saturday with a 99-76 loss to Northeastern Oklahoma. Earlier in the week, Barton opened its season with an easy 101-65 win over the Bethel JV. Barton will be on the road for 3 games this weekend in Colorado Springs on the campus of Air Force Prep for the Husky Classic.
Highlights
The Cougars trailed by as much as 7 early in the contest Friday before locking down on defense against the Thunderbirds. New Mexico JC led 13-7 with 13 minutes to play in the opening half but the Cougars overtook the Thunderbirds with an 11-0 run for an 18-13 lead. Barton would stretch that lead to 34-20 by halftime and never trailed in the contest after the 11-0 run. The Cougars never led by less than double digits in the 2nd half and cruised to the 21-point win. Kristine Silaraja led the Cougars with 23 points on 7-of-12 shooting including a 4-of-6 effort from the 3-point land. She added 11 rebounds as well for a double-double. Jordi James and Tressie Todd both had double figure rebounds as well with James grabbing 12 boards and Todd 10.
Saturday the Cougars spent the entire game playing catch-up but never were able to do just that. Barton trailed 5-0 out of the gates and never led in the contest. The Cougars kept things close much of the way but weren't able get over the hump. Barton trailed by single digits most of the 1st half before NEO scored in the finals seconds for a 44-34 lead at half. In the 2nd half NEO kept that lead around 10 points, leading the Cougars 61-52 with 12:35 to play following a Silaraja bucket for Barton. NEO put together a 13-4 run to push that lead to 74-56 with 9:39 to play. Barton bounced back with a run of its own to cut the score to 76-65 with 6:39 left but another 6-0 run the Lady Norse pushed the lead back to 17 and NEO rolled to the win from there. Courtney Sturdivant made her season debut in the contest with the 3rd team All-American from last season leading Barton with 23 points in the loss. James, a freshman, added a career-high 22.
Barton started the season with the easy win over as 5 Cougars reached double figures. Kristine Silaraja scored 28 in the win with Brooke Conley adding 21. Freshman Kimber Weiser added 15 while Shelby Hillman and Tressie Todd had 13 and 11.
The Cougars will be part of the Husky Classic this weekend in Colorado Springs but will not play the host Air Force Prep Huskies. Barton will play Sheridan College (Wyom) Friday at 7 pm, Western Nebraska Saturday at 5 pm and North Platte (Neb) Sunday at 3 pm.
Stats
Stats can be found at www.bartonccc.edu/sports
Next
Nov 14 – v Sheridan (Wyom) 7 pm (Husky Classic at Colorado Springs, Colo)
Nov 15 – v Western Nebraska 5 pm (Husky Classic at Colorado Springs, Colo)
Nov 16 – v North Platte (Neb) 3 pm (Husky Classic at Colorado Springs, Colo)