IOLA – That streak is over.

The Barton women’s basketball team took a 4-game losing streak to Iola Saturday to take on Allen County. It was the first time this season Barton had even lost back-to-back games this year.

So ending that skid was vital for the Cougars as they head into the stretch of the regular season.

It wasn’t pretty at times, but in the end, it was a win for the Cougars.

Barton won its second road contest of the season . The Cougars finally took control in the final quarter to secure a 66-56 win over Allen at the Brick House.

Barton is now 10-9 in the Jayhawk and 13-10 overall with the win. That is good for eighth in the Jayhawk. Allen falls to 4-15 and 6-17.

The teams traded the lead through most of the first quarter. Allen went up 11-10 following a fast-break bucket with three minutes left in the opening quarter, prompting Barton Coach Clark to use a timeout.

The Cougars responded.

Jaylin Stapleton scored on a give-and-go layup to put Barton back on top. Barton pushed the lead to 14-11 on two Stapleton free throws. Taylor Regan added a 3-pointer to make it 17-11 and Stapleton closed out a big first quarter with a layup at the buzzer.

The Cougars, behind 10 points from Stapleton and six more from Regan, finished the first quarter on a 9-0 run. Barton would not trail again.

A sluggish second quarter for the Cougars kept Allen in the game. Barton managed just eight points in the quarter and went to halftime up 27-23.

The Red Devils cut the lead to a single digit midway through the third quarter as the Cougars continued to struggle to score. Allen made it 33-32 with 5:34 when Coach Clark used another timeout.

Again, Barton came out of the timeout and scored. Regan hit a putback and the free throw after being fouled to make it 36-32. But that is where the run ended this time. Allen tied the game at 36-all with 3:33 left .

But the Cougars finished the quarter strong again. Barton scored six straight after the game was tied at 38-all and when Micaela Jellison hit a pair of free throws in the finals seconds of the third quarter, Barton led 46-40.

The final quarter wasn’t much prettier early on. Barton didn’t score for three minutes but when Ndao hit a putback, Barton still had that six point lead, 48-42.

The lead grew to nine as Barton scored four straight following a fast-break bucket by Jellison on an assist from Stapleton for a 52-43 lead with 6:12 to play.

Natasha Dolinksy kept the run going on a trey to give Barton its first double-digit lead of the game of another Stapleton assist with 5:30 left.

Barton led by as many as 14 down the stretch before closing out a 10-point win.

Stapleton and Regan led the Cougars with 16 points each as four Cougars found double figures. Regan also had 15 rebounds and Stapleton four assists and two steals. Dolinsky finished with 13 points and Ndao 11.

The game also marked the return of 6-2 freshman Irene Chukwudi from a knee injury after missing eight games. Chukwudi was limited to just seven minutes, contributing two points and two rebounds.

Jakira Wilson scored 19 to lead Allen County.

The Cougars will be back home Wednesday to take on Independence. The Pirates have been fighting for the Jayhawk lead much of the season. Indy is currently two games back of the lead held by Seward County with a 14-4 conference mark. Tip will be at 5:30 pm.

Barton 66, Allen 56
Barton 19 8 19 20 – 66
Allen 11 12 17 16 – 56
Barton (10-9, 13-10) 66
Stapleton 5-16 6-6 16, Regan 7-12 1-1 16, Jellison 2-10 2-2 6, Ndao 5-8 1-2 11, Miller 0-5 2-2 2, Dixon 0-3 0-0 0, White 0-0 0-0 0, Dirks 0-1 0-0 0, Dolinsky 6-12 0-0 13, Chukwudi 0-2 2-2 2. Totals – 25-69 14-15 66.
Allen (4-15, 6-17) 56
Summons 3-9 4-4 10, Wilson 9-20 1-2 19, Shaver 2-6 1-2 6, Pittman 4-11 2-6 10, Seals 0-0 0-0 0, Andrews 1-1 2-2 4, Kincade 3-3 0-3 6, Patterson 0-4 1-2 1, Bonner 0-2 0-0 0, Elzie 0-5 0-0 0. Totals –- 22-61 11-21 56.
3-pointers – Barton 2-9 (Dolinsky 1-1, Regan 1-2, Stapleton 0-2, Miller 0-4); Allen 1-7 (Shaver 1-4, Summons 0-1, Patterson 0-1, Pittman 0-1).
Rebounds – Barton 36 (Regan 15, Jellison 10), Allen 30 (Pittman 7). Assists – Barton 11 (Stapleton 4), Allen 8 (Wilson 5). Steals – Barton 3 (Stapleton 2), Allen 7 (Summons 2). Blocks – Barton 1 (Ndao), Allen 2 (Elzie, Seals).
Turnovers – Barton 15, Allen 7. Fouled Out – Jellison, Barton. Technicals – None.