The Barton Community College women's basketball team began the new year with a bang Wednesday night at the Barton Gym by knocking off 23rd ranked Coffeyville Community College 51-40.
Trailing by three through the first eleven minutes, a 9-0 run put the Cougars in front for a lead they would never relinquish.
Barton held the Red Ravens to just five points in the second quarter and a closeout six points in the final frame for its third straight win in the series while limiting Coffeyville to its lowest output of the forty-nine meetings.
The Cougars improve to 6-2 in conference play and 10-3 overall following their third straight win while Coffeyville falls to 5-2 in league and 10-3 on the season.
Next up is a 2:00 p.m. non-conference tilt on Saturday hosting North Dakota State College of Science as the Wildcats roll into Great Bend on a nine game win streak and a glossy 13-2 record on the season.
Neither team shot well on the night, the Cougars at just 33% with Coffeyville at 27% as Barton held a plus-13 rebound advantage including 15 offensive boards leading to a plus-6 edge in second chance points.
Vera Ojenuwa led Barton's dominance of the boards with 14, five coming on the offensive end, while adding 10 points for her 6th double-double of the year to go along with 4 of the Cougars' 11 steals on the night.
Quezia Bertoni reached double figures for the fourth straight game, leading all players with 20 points on 50% shooting and an all-around effort of 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals.
Grace John canned a pair of third quarter triples leading to a 10 point night for Barton's third player in double figures, adding 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals.
Vivian Onugha contributed just 4 points but also had a big night on the glass grabbing 10 to eclipse double digit rebounds for the seventh straight game and ninth of the year.
Providing the big spark of the Cougars' pivotal 9-0 second quarter run, Tatum Boettcher scored five straight in the stretch including draining her lone trey in finishing with 7 points.
Coffeyville placed eight in the scoring column but none in double figures as Bailey Layman's 3-of-10 from long range led the Red Ravens with 9 points with Jae'Mya Lyons finishing with eight.
SERIES NOTES:
- Barton has won 9 of the last 11 meetings and 6-of-7 in Great Bend
- Coffeyville's 40 points scored was the Red Ravens' lowest in the series
- Fifth straight game of the series Coffeyville has been held under 60 points
- Barton's third straight win in the series
- Barton leads the series 22-4 in Great Bend
- Barton leads the overall series 35-14