Following a big second quarter Saturday night, the Barton women’s basketball never trailed in the Jayhawk Conference opener in the Community Building at Colby.
But it was anything but a secure lead the rest of the way.
The Cougars held off numerous Colby rallies after taking a 9-point halftime lead. But Barton did hold off the Trojans to score a 57-52 win open the 26-game conference slate.
“A win is a win,” Coach Alan Clark said. “Anytime you can get out of Colby with a win that is a good thing. It is a tough place to play.”
Barton is 1-0 in the Jayhawk and 4-1 overall while Colby falls to 0-1 and 2-3.
The Cougars poured in 21 second quarter points to break a 10-all first quarter tie. Barton used the 21-12 advantage to take a 31-22 halftime lead.
“We got some of their big kids in foul trouble in the second quarter,” Coach Clark said of the big period. “Then we took advantage of it.”
Back-to-back 3-pointers from Regan Unruh and Katrina Roenfeldt gave the Cougars a 23-17 lead midway through the quarter. A pair of Baylee Robinson baskets pushed the lead to nine late in the half.
Colby would fight back.
After Barton pushed the lead to 34-24 the Trojans went on an 11-2 run to cut the lead to 36-35 with four minutes left in the third before Alexus Bryson stopped it a driving layup in the halfcourt. Barton would push the lead back to five and lead 43-40 at the end of the third.
Barton opened up a 50-43 lead to start the fourth. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Colby’s Chasten Buckner again cut the lead to one at 52-51 with five minutes left in the game.
Colby had a possession to take the lead but a turnover followed by a Jalisa Jones layup halted the run. Unruh pushed it back to 56-51 with 2:48 left.
Colby would not threaten again, scoring just one point the final five minutes of the game.
“Every time we got it out to seven or eight they would cut it to three or four,” Coach Clark said. “Then we got up six and they would cut it to one.
“But in the end we always answered. To do that on the road was nice for us.”
Robinson led Barton with a double-double. The sophomore post scored 15 and grabbed 11 boards. Roenfeldt and Unruh both added 11 points.
Dezyree Morales led the Trojans with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
“We didn’t shoot the ball well and when you don’t shoot it well nothing looks good,” Coach Clark said. “Defensively we played to the scouting report very well. We did a good job on that end.”
Barton will be at home Wednesday to take on Garden City. The Broncbusters are fresh off an upset win over Butler to start the conference. Tip will be a 5:30 pm at the Barton Gym.
“Garden had a big win,” Coach Clark said. “They have a good point guard, a girl that can shoot it really well and a good five. Those three kids can go.”

Barton 57, Colby 52
Barton 10 21 12 14 57
Colby 10 12 18 12 52
Barton (57)
Roenfeldt 3-10 3-4 11, Jones 2-4 1-3 5, Jirak 1-4 0-0 3, Unruh 3-12 4-4 11, Robinson 6-13 3-6 15, Bryson 3-5 1-2 7, Jellison 2-9 1-4 5, Holler 0-0 0-0 0, Welsch 0-1 0-0 0, Walford 0-0 0-0 0. Totals – 20-58 13-23 57.
Colby (52)
Herman 2-4 2-3 7, Dennis 0-1 0-0 0, Tucker 1-6 3-3 5, Morales 6-15 1-2 13, Johnson 0-4 1-2 1, Hall 3-5 2-4 8, Buckner 3-12 0-0 6, Beard 0-0 0-0, Jones 0-0 0-0 , Barksdale 2-4 1-2 6, Jones 3-6 0-0 6, Keltz 0-0 0-0 0. Totals – 19-57 10-16 52.
3-pointers – Barton 4-17 (Roenfeldt 2-8, Jirak 1-1, Unruh 1-4, Bryson 0-2, Welsch 0-1, Jones 0-1); Colby 4-17 (Buckner 2-10, Herman 1-1, Barksdale 1-1, Jones 0-2, Dennis 0-1, Morales 0-1, Hall 0-1).
Rebounds – Barton 47 (Robinson 11); Colby 50 (Morales 10). Assists – Barton 5 (5 with 1), Colby 6 (Johnson 3). Steals – Barton 7 (Robinson 2); Colby 1 (Herman). Blocks – Barton 1 (Roenfeldt); Colby 3 (Morales 2).
Turnovers – Barton 13, Colby 21. Fouled Out – None. Technicals – None.