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Barton Cougar women survive another slow start in win at Allen
barton community college basketball
Barton led wire-to-wire on the way to a 70-45 win over Pratt.
IOLA – Coach Alan Clark is open to suggestions at this point.
Saturday afternoon he watched his Barton women's basketball team get off to yet another slow start before putting things together on the way to an 87-82 in over Allen County in Jayhawk Conference play.
The win was the first true road win for the Cougars as well as the first back-to-back wins since November.
Barton is 4-3 in the Jayhawk and 8-8 overall after the win. Allen falls to 1-7 and 6-11.
But getting the win was no easy task as Barton trailed by 19 then led by 20 before holding on for the narrow win.
Once again, it was the rough start that has Coach Clark concerned.
After scoring the first points of the game on a pair of Queen Ulabo free throws, Barton went cold.
In fact, Allen followed with a 21-0 run before D'Shonda Hunt made a free throw with 2:49 left in the first quarter. Barton didn't get its first field goal until 1:54 was left in the first quarter.
In its last outing, Barton trailed 15-4 in the first quarter before coming back for the win against Cloud.
"I am at a loss," Coach Clark said. "I am not sure what to do to make us get off to better starts. I am open to suggestions at this point."
But the Cougars came back. One could say they came roaring back.
By half Barton had the lead down to 31-28. The Cougars exploded for a season-high 33 points in the third period as Barton overtook Allen and led 61-47 after three quarters.
The Cougars increased the lead to 20 and were still on cruise control in the final period leading 72-54 with less than six minutes to play.
Then Allen made its run. The Red Devils used a 9-0 run to cut the lead to 72-63. Allen got it to a pair in the final minute, 82-80, before Richelle Turney made two free throws with 31 seconds to play.
Allen would whittle it to a pair again before some more Turney free throws put the game away as the sophomore from California had a big night scoring to give the Cougars the first true road win of the season.
"Getting the win on the road is good for us," Coach Clark said. "Hopefully that gives up the confidence to win on the road again."
Turney poured in 32 points in the win to go with a team-high nine rebounds and four assists. She was joined in double figures by Ulabo with 19 and Vanessa Oduah with 17. Hunt added 14 points and eight rebounds.
Brandi Jordan nearly matched Turney, leading Allen with 30 points. Ariel Walker added 24 for the Red Devils.
Barton will look to make it three straight overall and back-to-back road wins when the Cougars travel to Pratt Monday to start the West portion of the Jayhawk schedule. Pratt is fresh off a win at Cloud County and is currently third in the West.
The Beavers are 5-2 in the Jayhawk and 11-5 overall. Tip is set for 5:30 pm at the Beaver Dome.

Barton 87, Allen 82
Barton   8  20  33  26 – 87
Allen    23   8   16  35 – 82

Barton (4-3, 8-8) 87
Turney 11-21 7-9 32, Hunt 3-3 8-9 14, Ulabo 6-16 7-11 19, Oduah 6-11 1-4 17, Davis 1-2 1-2 3, Dortland 0-2 0-0 0, Talbott 0-1 0-0 0, Valentine 1-3 0-0 2. Totals – 28-59 24-35 87.
Allen (1-7, 6-11) 82
Crippen 3-9 2-2 8, Schroeder 3-4 0-0 7, Walker 9-16 6-6 24, Jordan 10-25 5-6 30, Sango 1-4 3-4 5, Guzman 1-4 0-0 3, Whitten 1-1 0-0 2, Deen 0-1 0-0 0, Gipson 1-3 1-4 3, Handle 0-5 0-0 0. Totals – 29-72 17-22 82.
3-pointers – Barton 7-25 (Oduah 4-7, Turney 3-10, Ulabo 0-3, Dortland 0-2, Valentine 0-1, Davis 0-1, Talbott 0-1), Allen 7-26 (Jordan 5-14, Schroeder 1-2, Guzman 1-3, Walker 0-5, Crippen 0-2).
Rebounds – Barton 44 (Turney 8), Allen 40 (Sango 6). Assists – Barton 10 (Turney 4), Allen 12 (Crippen 5). Steals – Barton 2 (Hunt, Ulabo), Allen 14 (Walker 4). Blocks – Barton 2 (Turney, Valentine), Allen 1 (Handle).

Turnovers – Barton 16, Allen 18. Fouled Out – Sango, Allen. Technicals – None.