EL DORADO – In the early stages of the final quarter, the Barton women’s basketball had an upset brewing at the Power Plant.

The Cougars had just taken their first lead of the night at No. 13 Butler and momentum was running alongside them.

Unfortunately, that 13th ranked team had a little something to say about that upset on its home floor.

Butler responded to Barton’s challenge and held off the upset bit. The Grizzlies emerged from the battle with a 61-54 Jayhawk Conference win to remain unbeaten on the season.

Barton slipped to 3-3 in the Jayhawk and 4-3 overall while Butler is 6-0 and 7-0.

Butler bolted out of the gates to take a 15-8 lead after the first period but Barton wasn’t going to go away easily.

The Cougars battled back to tie the game momentarily in the second quarter before Butler took a 26-22 lead to intermission.

The Grizzlies maintained a slight lead most of the third period and led 37-32 with just more than three minutes to play.

It was then the Cougars put together their best run of the game.

Barton held the Grizzlies scoreless the final three minutes of the period while Tiffany Dortland and Vanessa Oduah each made buckets. When Queen Ulabo made 1-of-2 free throws with 57 seconds left in the quarter, Barton had tied the game at 37-all.

The Cougars took their first lead of the night 26 seconds into the final quarter on a Marliah Johnson jumper. Johnson added two free throws the next trip down the floor and Barton had a 41-37 lead one minute into the final period.

That 9-0 run would be the high point however.

The Cougars scored just two points over the next five minutes as the Grizzlies defense shut down Barton.

Butler retook the lead for good with seven minutes to play and got it up to eight, 51-43, to cap a 14-2 run with 4:14 left.

Barton would get no closer than six the rest of the way.

Dortland and Ulabo each scored 15 for the Cougars while Oduah added 13. Ulabo led Barton with 11 rebounds for her second double-double. Ulabo also had five steals on the night.

Next up for the Cougars will be a home game against Cloud County Saturday.

The Thunderbirds will fly into the Barton Gym for a 2 pm tip off. Cloud is 3-2 in the Jayhawk, sitting third behind Butler and Independence on the East side.

No. 13 Butler 61, Barton 54

Barton       8  14  15  17 – 54

Butler       15  11  11  24 – 61

Barton (4-3, 3-3) 54

Dortland 6-12 2-2 15, Ulabo 2-11 11-13 15, Oduah 5-16 1-2 13, Johnson 1-6 7-8 9, Anderson 1-2 0-2 2, Willt 0-0 0-0 0, Kirchhoff 0-0 0-0 0, Rumford 0-1 0-0 0, Leveque 0-1 0-0 0, Player 0-2 0-0 0. Totals – 15-51 21-27 54.

Butler (7-0, 6-0) 61

Knight 6-9 3-4 17, Downs 1-7 0-0 3, Beck 1-3 0-0 3, Mullins 0-3 3-6 3, Nard 5-9 2-5 13, Livingston 0-0 0-0 0, Williams 3-3 0-0 6, Conley 0-0 0-0 0, Furman 4-7 2-2 11, Hett 0-3 2-2 2, Nero 0-0 0-0 0, Harrod 1-6 1-4 3. Totals – 21-50 13-23 61.

3-pointers – Barton 3-16 (Oduah 2-7, Dortland 1-4, Ulabo 0-1, Johnson 0-2, Player 0-2), Butler xx (xx).

Rebounds – Barton 22 (Ulabo 11), Butler 37 (Nard 7). Assists – Barton 8 (Oduah 4), Butler 14 (Knight 4). Steals – Barton 9 (Ulabo 5), Butler 7 (Furman). Blocks – Barton 1 (Ulabo), Butler 2 (Nard, Williams).

Turnovers – Barton 15, Butler 21. Fouled Out – None. Technicals – Nero, Butler.