PRATT – If was just what the Barton women’s basketball team was in search of.
The Cougars were in need of a burst of momentum. They had dropped four straight and eight of nine heading into Pratt Wednesday night at Lesh Sports Arena.
But that is all in the past now as the Cougars blew things wide open in the second quarter on the way to an easy Jayhawk Conference win.
Barton led wire-to-wire on the way to a 70-45 win over Pratt. That kept the Cougars in the hunt for the eighth spot in the Jayhawk Conference and the final home playoff spot.
Barton is now 11-13 in the Jayhawk and 14-14 overall. Pratt remains in the last spot in the conference at 2-22 and 3-24.
The Cougars will now wait until Coffeyville (12-11) and Butler (15-8) play today to see if they gained ground on the Red Raiders. The contest was moved back one day due to the weather. If Butler wins the game, Barton could catch Coffeyville when the two meet Saturday at the Barton Gym.
Irene Chukwudi led a solid start for Barton, scoring six of the Cougars first eight points on the way an 8-1 lead early in the contest. Chukwudi was back in the starting lineup for the first time since returning from an injury three games ago. Her last start was on Jan. 3.
After getting the lead in the opening minutes, Barton never trailed. The Cougars led 17-10 after the first 10 minutes.
The lead reached double figures on a pair of Ryen White free throws for a 21-10 lead four minutes into the second stanza.
It took the Beavers eight minutes before putting any points on the board in the second period. By that time, the Cougars had built a 29-10 lead after a 15-0 run and had the game well in hand.
A pair of Jada Catlin free throws with 2:05 to play in the quarter was the first points for the Beavers in the second period. By that point, the outcome was not in much doubt.
A Mallory Miller 3-pointer got the lead to 20 points at 34-14. At half, the Cougars led 36-14.
The offense hit high gear early in the third as the Cougars scored nine points in the opening three minutes to take a 45-14 lead after another Miller trey. At the end of three, Barton led 56-31.
It was a big game for Jaylin Stapleton. The Cougar freshman topped the 20-point mark for the third time this season but the first since November. The Meade point guard ended with 21 on 8-of-16 shootings. It was the sixth time in the last seven games she reached double figures.
Miller had a big game as well, knocking down five treys on her way to 17 points. That was the most the Goddard freshman scored since scoring 17 against Butler back on Jan. 24.
Taylor Regan added eight points and a game-high 14 rebounds.
Dakota Smith led Pratt with 16 points.
Coffeyville makes the trip to Barton Saturday in what will a preview of the opening round of the Region VI. It is just a matter of where that game will be played. It is sophomore night for the Cougars. Tip will be at 5:30 pm.

Barton 70, Pratt 45
Barton 17 19 20 14 – 70
Pratt 10 4 17 14 – 45
Barton (11-13, 14-14) 70
Stapleton 8-16 3-4 21, Regan 2-7 4-5 8, Jellison 3-9 1-2 7, Miller 6-12 0-0 17, Chukwudi 2-5 2-2 6, Dison 0-1 0-0 0, Dirks 0-2 0-0 0, Dolinsky 4-4 0-0 8. Totals – 25-58 13-17 70.
Pratt (2-22, 3-24) 45
Parvin 3-9 0-0 8, Miller 1-5 2-2 4, Catlin 2-10 2-2 6, Cannon 1-6 1-2 3, Smith 5-9 6-7 16, Klaus 1-2 0-0 2, Diaz 1-1 0-0 3, Anderson 0-7 0-0 0, Lewis 1-2 0-0 3. Totals –- 15-51 11-13 45.
3-pointers – Barton 7-16 (Miller 5-9, Stapleton 2-5, Regan 0-1, Dirks 0-1); Pratt 4-15 (Parvin 2-6, Lewis 1-1, Diaz 1-1, Catlin 0-1, Miller 0-2, Anderson 0-4).
Rebounds – Barton 37 (Regan 14), Pratt 26 (Smith 5, Catlin 5). Assists – Barton 10 (Miller 3), Pratt 6 (Smith 2). Steals – Barton 7 (3 with 2), Pratt 10 (Catln 4, Smith 4). Blocks – Barton 1 (Regan), Pratt 1 (Miller).
Turnovers – Barton 19, Pratt 18. Fouled Out – None. Technicals – None.