The Barton Community College women's basketball team shook off a sluggish start Saturday afternoon in pulling away capped by a big fourth quarter for a 70-51 victory over Coffeyville Community College.
Recovering from a two point deficit after the first period horn, Barton knocked down a season tying high twelve three-pointers in the contest including 4-of-5 in the final quarter in the pull-away victory.
Avenging an eight point loss in Coffeyville two months ago to salvage the season series, Barton improves to 13-4 in conference and 19-4 overall while Coffeyville slides to 11-7 and 15-9 on the season.
The Cougars conclude their brief two-game homestand on Wednesday in hosting Cloud County Community College for a 5:30 p.m. tip.
Acorionna Lard led all scorers on the afternoon, dropping a career high 5-of-7 beyond the arc for 19 points. Fellow guards Brennan Kirchhoff drained 4-of-8 from long range for 13 points with Morgan Meyers canning a pair of triples on the way to a 10 point night.
Facing double teams all afternoon, Jenny Nkem Womsi stayed solid to post her 17th double-double, scoring 13 points and 10 rebounds while finding the open teammate for a game high and personal best 6 assists. Alissa Heskamp helped the Cougars to a plus-3 edge on the boards, grapping 7 rebounds and adding 8 points.
Kyleigh Ortiz knocked down three, second period three-pointers but was held scoreless in the other three quarters to score 9 points in being joined by Kennady Roach's 9 points as the high pointer for the Ravens.
Coffeyville led 11-9 after the first period, grabbing the lead on the third basket of the afternoon as neither team shot well with the Ravens at 29.4% while Barton was an ice cold 22.2%.
Grace John's trey to open second period scoring put Barton on top, the Cougars later holding a lead until one of the Ravens' 12 offensive rebounds in the game resulted in an Ortiz trey reversing the advantage. Free throws by Womsi at the mid-point and Lard's first triple of the day created a four point gap that was quickly erased by consecutive Ortiz' treys matching the Ravens' largest lead.
The Cougars fought back in the remaining two minutes with a Womsi 1-of-2 trip to the line and Kirchhoff triple to tie it up before a defensive stop led to Heskamp exercising the float game for a hoop-n-harm sending Barton to the break up three.
For eight minutes of the third quarter the teams exchanged points before going scoreless for three minutes. A Raven bucket sliced the margin to two but the Cougars finally hit the light switch in going on a 7-0 spurt in fifty seconds as Womsi went to work inside for four points with Meyers canning a triple opening up a late nine point lead.
Coffeyville sliced into the deficit with the last bucket of the third frame before drawing to with five with 7:56 left but it would be as close as the game would be the rest of the way.
Pounding the offensive boards, Heskamp's putback and Kirchhoff's board work resulted in a three-pointer nine seconds later pushing the gap to ten. Following a Raven 1-of-2 trip to the line, the Cougars blew it open on ten straight getting a Meyers bucket and eight straight from Lard including back-to-back arc busters.
Lard's final deep shot answered Coffeyville's streak halter then following a mini four straight spurt by the Ravens, keyed another 6-pack of points with a drive to the cup, dishing to Womsi on the low block, before Michaela Hall's inside jumper with 32 seconds remaining gave Barton its largest lead of twenty-two points.
Record Book Watch and Impacts:
Brennan Kirchhoff: 5th in made career three-pointers (101 *26 from Kristine Silaraja' 2007-09 total)
Morgan Meyers: 6th in made career three-pointers (95)
Jenny Nkem Womsi:
- 8th in single season rebounds (302 *9 from Shirley Archer's 311 in 1995-96 season, 11 from Taylor Regan's 313 in 2017-18 season)
- Tied for 5th in career rebounds (596 *Tied with Beth Lebsack's 1980-82 total, 30 from Wendy Okeson's 626 total during 1998-00 seasons)