A strong defensive first half proved to be enough for the Barton women’s basketball team Saturday afternoon at the Barton Gym.
The Cougars limited Allen County to just six points in the second quarter and just 17 the first half on the way to a 62-50 win in Jayhawk Conference play.
The win kept Barton solidly in seventh place in the Jayhawk with a 9-10 conference mark. The Cougars are 12-11 overall. Allen fell to 6-13 in the Jayhawk and are 7-16 overall.
Barton jumped to a 7-0 lead on Allen following a 3-pointer by Megan Jirak three minutes into the game and stage was set.
The lead grew to double digits on a Micaela Jellison basket to make it 12-2 moments later. The Cougars would never trail the entire game.
Another Jirak 3 just before the break gave the Cougars a 28-16 halftime lead. It grew to as high as 17 early in the third quarter.
The Cougars would lead by double digits nearly the entire second half as Barton snapped a 3-game losing streak.
Jirak and Jellison led the Cougars offensive attack in the win. Jirak hit three 3-pointers on the way to a game-high 19 points. Jellison came off the bench and added 15.
Jirak and Katrina Roenfeldt each grabbed seven rebounds to pace Barton. Jalisa Jones and Jirak both had four assists.
Kamri Summons scored 17 to pace the Red Devils.
Barton will look make it two straight with a big game on tap Wednesday at Independence.
The Pirates are one of two teams a couple games behind the Cougars in the standings as Barton looks for a top eight finish and a home court game to start the post season.
Tip for the contest will at 6 pm.

Barton 62, Allen 50
Allen 11 5 16 18 50
Barton 18 10 16 18 62
Alen (7-16, 6-13)
Swanson 2-10 0-0 5, Summons 7-11 3-3 17, Shaver 3-7 1-1 9, Alleyne 3-7 0-0 6, Franklin 5-19 1-1 11, Houston 0-1 0-0 0, Trautloff 1-2 0-0 2, Stephens 0-2 0-0 0, Seals 0-3 0-0 0. Totals – 21-62 5-6 50.
Barton (12-11, 9-10)
Roenfeldt 2-10 2-2 8, Jones 3-7 3-4 9, Jirak 8-14 0-0 19, Unruh 0-0 0-0 0, Robinson 1-4 0-0 2, Bryson 0-2 2-2 2, Jellison 5-10 5-10 15, Welsch 2-5 2-2 7, Chagas 0-0 0-0 0, Mattison 0-2 0-0 0. Totals – 21-54 14-20 62.
3-pointers – Allen 3-14 (Shaver 2-6, Swanson 1-3, Seals 0-3, Stephens 0-2); Barton 6-17 (Jirak 3-7, Roenfeldt 2-8, Welsch 1-2). Rebounds – Allen 33 (Franklin 8), Barton 43 (Roenfeldt, Jirak 7). Assists – Allen 10 (Swanson, Franklin 3), Barton 17 (Jirak, Jones 4). Steals – Allen 7 (Summons 2), Barton 2 (Roenfeldt, Robinson 2). Blocks – Allen 3 (Seals 2), Barton 1 (Welsch). Turnovers – Allen 13, Barton 14. Fouled Out – None. Technicals – None.