The Barton Community College women's basketball team came out of the halftime locker room Wednesday evening on a mission as crisp passing and lockdown defense led to a 70-62 victory hosting Seward County Community College.
Barton lead by just three at the break but scored the first six points of the third period, later piling on another nine straight while holding the Saints to just five points in the frame for a 49-31 lead.
Stretching the gap to twenty-two points with 5:27 left, all sense of ball control went out the window as the Cougars committed ten straight turnovers in a three minute span shrinking the margin to ten.
Vivian Onugha's layup halted the drought but a Saint three-pointer followed by another Barton turnover leading to a shot jumper drew Seward County to within seven with 1:04 remaining. Onugha's bucket twelve seconds later gave Barton some added cushion as late in the game the Saint's 8th three pointer and third of the period cut the gap to six before McKenna Vogl's late basket sealed the Cougars' fourth straight win of the series.
Aided by Butler's loss to Dodge City, Barton's victory moves the Cougars into a tie for 3rd place at 14-5 and 19-6 overall while Seward County drops to 10-8 in league and 14-10 on the season.
The Cougars will next hit the road on Saturday for a 2:00 p.m. tip at Coffeyville Community College before having a week off before its next contest coming Saturday, February 24 hosting Garden City Community College.
Barton had three double-double performances within its four in double figures led by the 12th double-double by Vera Ojenuwa in scoring 16 points and 12 rebounds. Quezia Bertoni, who led the Cougars with 4 steals, recorded her 3rd of the year behind 14 points with 12 assists to increase her Region leading assist total while also hauling down a team third best 6 rebounds. Onugha posted her 10th of the year by matching Ojenuwa for team high 12 rebound honors and scoring ten of her 13 points in second half action.
Grace John rounded out the double figure scoring with 10 points with Tatum Boettjer's pair of treys leading to a 9 point night. Vogl came off the bench to add 6 points including a guarded late second period 15' jumper beating the shot clock putting Barton in front with Bertoni's halftime buzzer beating drive closing out the Cougars' quick four point swing into the break.
Barton shot 69.2% in both frames of the second half to offset 17 final twenty-minute turnovers, finishing at 52.6% overall in countering 26 total miscues.
The Cougars controlled the boards by a plus-20 margin, outscoring Seward County by 18 points in the paint as the Saints held a plus-15 point edge due to Barton's turnovers.
Seward County followed just a 1-of-13 shooting in the third period with 8-of-14 in the final frame including 3-of-5 from deep to finish at 34.5% overall and 8-of-21 from beyond the arch.
Jamia Carter's 4-of-8 long range shooting and four steals led a 21 point night to lead the Saints with Ari Gordon's game high 9 steals helping contribute 12 points. Allie Myers additionally added 12 points and led the Saints with 9 rebounds.
SERIES NOTES:
- Barton has won four straight in the series and 6-of-the-last-8
- Barton leads the series 30-17 at the Barton Gym
- Barton leads the overall series 53-49