The Barton Community College women's basketball team shook off a tough start Saturday afternoon at the Barton Gym to register a 63-51 non-conference victory over fellow 2023 national tournament qualifier North Dakota State College of Science.

Trailing by ten after the opening frame, the Cougars flipped the script scoring fifteen straight to eventually lead by seven into the locker room.

The Wildcats gained the third quarter edge in taking back the lead on a 15-6 stretch but Barton would respond in taking a one-point advantage to the final frame.

Following a 1-of-2 Wildcat trip to the free throw line tying the game at 46 to begin the fourth quarter, Barton rattled off eleven straight in a decisive run while holding NDSCS to its second single digit output in a quarter in cruising to the win.

Victors of four straight, Barton improves to 11-3 on the season with North Dakota's nine game winning streak coming to an end in dropping to 13-3.

Barton returns to conference play on Wednesday traveling to Garden City Community College for a 5:30 p.m. start before hosting Dodge City Community College on Saturday in a 2:00 p.m. tip.

The Cougars had a plus-10 point advantage in the paint led by Vivian Onugha posting a pair of career highs on the afternoon in dumping in 21 points on 50% shooting and 5 steals to go along with 8 rebounds.

Recording her 7th double-double of the year, Vera Ojenuwa scored 12 points and 11 rebounds with Grace John adding 11 points and 3 steals.

Barton also had a sizeable plus-13 point edge off the bench getting a career high 8 points from Darby Smith, including knocking down her first and second collegiate three-pointers, and 6 points from McKenna Vogl.

Shania Nichols-Vanne led the Wildcats with 18 points with Savanna Jones adding 11 points and 8 rebounds.