GOODLAND – For the second straight game, the Barton women’s basketball built a double digit lead second half lead and looked to be in complete control.

And for the second straight game, the Cougars saw that big lead evaporate. But, for the second straight game, Barton held on for the win.

This time, the Cougars avoided being the first win of the season for the Jayhawk Conference’s newest member in Northwest Tech.

Barton built a 19-point second half lead on the Mavericks then won in overtime, 84-76. This on the heels of Barton leading by 19 against Colby in the previous outing before seeing the lead cut to six in a win over the Trojans.

The Cougars are now 7-3 in the Jayhawk West and 14-5 overall. Northwest Tech is 0-11 and 0-18.

But don’t be fooled by that record. 

Northwest Tech got one of the best players in the conference at semester when New Mexico transfer N’Dea Flye became eligible.

Flye was key to the Mavericks nearly getting that first win against, scoring 31 points against the Cougars.

Barton scored the first eight points – six from Irene Chukwudi before Flye and Mavericks got going. Flye scored 13 in the first period as NW Tech led 19-15.

Richelle Turney scored the first 12 points of the second period for Barton as the Cougars opened on a 14-0 run to lead 29-19. The Cougars led 35-29 at half.

The third quarter looked like the Cougars were going to pull away. 

Mallory Miller hit back-to-back treys in the first couple of minutes as the Cougars scored the first eight points of the period to take a 43-29 lead and grab control of the contest. 

The Cougars would lead by as many 19 before the Mavs rallied in the final period. Barton still led 68-53 early in the final period before a 10-0 run made it 68-63 with 3:17 left.

The Mavs got it down to 68-65 in the final two minutes when the Cougars’ caught a break. Flye knocked the ball free from Stapleton, but it went right to Regan for a layup and the first points for Barton nearly four minutes.

That gave the Cougars a 70-65 lead with 1:21 left.

When Flye buried a trey from 25-feet out at the top of the key, it was a 70-69 lead with 40 seconds left.  Barton ran the clock down to 9.8 seconds before Stapleton was fouled. She hit 1-of-2 to make it a 71-69 game.

Flye missed a long two but Kiara Tharpe grabbed the rebound and was eventually fouled – the fifth on Stapleton – with 1.2 seconds to play, giving the freshman a chance to tie it at the free throw line. 

The 52 percent free throw shooter rattled in the first then buried the second with all net and the game was headed to overtime.

The overtime belonged to Regan. The Barton sophomore scored on an offensive rebound then made a pair of free throws to give Barton a 75-71 lead with 3:40 left.

A Chukwudi hook to put her over her career high and made it 77-71. Regan added another bucket and the Cougars led 79-71 with 2:24 left in OT. 

When Regan added a free throw and fouled out Flye with 1:09 left, the Cougars could breathe a bit easier, up 80-72.

Regan scored eight in the overtime as Barton held on for the 84-76 win.

Miller scored 16 to lead Barton followed by Turney with 15. Chukwudi scored a career-high 14 and Regan finished 11 including those eight big overtime points.

In addition to the 31 by Flye, Josie Cook tossed in 21 and Tharpe 16.

Barton heads to Liberal Saturday to take on Seward County. The Saints are 10-1 in the West and 18-2 overall after a 62-52 win at Colby Wednesday. The Saints are ranked No. 11 in the nation and have won 12 straight.

Barton 84, NW Tech 76 (OT)

Barton     15  20  24  12 13 – 84

NW Tech  19  10  15  27  5  – 76

Barton (14-5, 7-3) 84

White 6, Stapleton 7, Regan 11, Miller 16, Chukwudi 14, Turney 15, Hunt 2, Keith 6, Ndao 2, Dirks 2, Phillips 2. 

NW Tech (0-19, 0-11) 76

Flye 31, Ray 4, Tharpe 16, Box 3, Gillard 2, Cook 21.