Finally a game against a team not ranked in the Top 10. And with it finally a win snapping a 4-game losing streak.
The Barton Community College women’s basketball team finally picked up its second win in Jayhawk West play Wednesday night at Colby. The Cougars knocked off the Trojans 61-50 at the Community Building.
The Cougars used a late run in the opening half to gain a lead then hold off Colby down the stretch to secure the win, improving to 2-4 in the West and 12-6 overall. Colby falls to 3-4 in the West and 10-10 overall.
Barton was coming off back-to-back games against teams ranked in the Top 10 and a third against a team that started the season out in the Top 10.
Both teams struggled to score early in the game with Barton leading just 7-6 midway through the opening half when Colby went on an 8-0 run to take a 14-7 lead.
The Cougars finally found their legs in the final eight minutes of the half, closing out the opening 20 minutes on a 21-4 run – including a 17-0 run at one point. That gave the Cougars a double figure lead at intermission, 28-18.
Barton continued to pull away to start the second half, scoring the first seven points to grab a 35-18 lead with 15 minutes to play in the game.
But, as most trips to Colby go, things weren’t easy from there. The Trojans whittled away at the Barton lead, cutting it to 47-36 at the midway point of the second half and eventually down to 50-44 with six minutes left.
It was then when Cierra Lampe knocked down a huge 3-pointer for the Cougars to push the lead back to 53-44. Colby would continue to keep things close but would get no closer than five. The latest of those came at 55-50 in the final two minutes but Phikala Anthony made it 57-50 with 1:31 left and Barton closed out on a 6-0 run for the 11-point win.
Anthony led the Cougars with 19 points followed by Lampe with a career-high 15. Indian Cauley led Barton in rebounding as she posted a double-double with a career-high 14 rebounds to go with 10 points. Anthony added eight rebounds and five assists.
Jada Grady and Deandra Williams each scored 12 to lead Colby.
It wasn’t the prettiest of offensive efforts as Barton turned the ball over a season-high 28 times and shooting continued to be an issue for the Cougars as they hit just 30 percent from the floor. But on the defensive side, Barton held Colby to 25 percent shooting and out-rebounded the Trojans 56-40.
Barton will look to make it two straight when Pratt pays a visit to the Barton Gym Saturday. The Beavers will bring a 2-4 West mark to the game and a 12-8 overall record. Pratt is coming off a drubbing by No. 2 Hutchinson Wednesday, 85-34, in Pratt.