It was a sluggish start coming off a record-breaking effort for the Barton women’s basketball team.
But in the end the Cougars rolled to an easy win for their sixth straight win of the season.
Barton defeated the Bethany JV Friday night at the Barton Gym by a 94-46 final to improve to 7-2 on the season.
“We were sloppy at times,” Coach Trevor Rolfs said. “After the way we played Wednesday I think we thought we would just come out full throttle to the floor.”
Barton had just put 131 points on the scoreboard two days earlier.
The Cougars were definitely not hitting on all cylinders to open the game, leading just 13-10 eight minutes in.
Barton, however, closed the final two minutes of the first quarter on a 12-0 run to end the period with a 25-10 lead.
Sophomore Katrina Roenfeldt closed the quarter with a baseline trey.
The Cougars never looked back.
Roenfeldt opened the second quarter with another trey as Barton’s run reached 15-0.
The Cougars led at half 42-23 then blew the game open in the third. Barton outscored the Swedes 24-6 in the third to lead 66-29 heading into the final period.
Five Cougars scored in double figures in a balanced attack.
Roenfeldt, Jalisa Jones, Alexus Bryson, and Tyanna Warren all scored 13 for Cougars. Megan Jirak added 10.
Jones led Barton with 11 rebounds. Regan Unruh led Barton with eight assists.
The Barton defense forced 37 Bethany turnovers, scoring 35 points off them.
“That was a big difference,” Coach Rolfs said. “Wednesday we scored 84 points off 50 turnovers. Friday we scored 35 off 37 turnovers.
“Overall we played well, really well at times. We just had a slow start, were inconsistent and did not shoot the ball well.”
The Cougars are back in action this weekend in the Best Western/Booster Club Thanksgiving Classic at the Barton Gym.  
“We have two big ones this weekend,” Coach Rolfs said.
Barton will host Iowa Western Friday then look for some revenge Saturday against Otero College (Colo.). Otero is one of two teams to beat them this season.