GREAT BEND, Kan. (BartonSports.com) – The Barton Community College women’s basketball team got off to a much needed solid start Saturday evening at the Barton Gym in rolling to its first conference victory of the season 71-37 over Pratt Community College.
A 10-0 run ending the first quarter gave the Cougars a twelve point margin after the opening frame, growing the advantage each frame before another big 14-0 fourth quarter stretch ballooned the lead to its largest of thirty-eight points in cruising to the victory.
Putting its five-game losing streak to rest, Barton improves to 1-5 in conference play and 5-7 on the season while Pratt’s sixth straight loss in Great Bend keeps the Beavers winless in league play at 0-5 and slipping to 5-6 overall.
The Cougars’ wrap-up of the 2024 home slate now turns its attention to a pair of road trips before the holiday break beginning with Wednesday’s 5:30 p.m. tip at Seward County Community College followed by a Saturday 1:00 p.m. tip at No. 5 ranked Dodge City Community College.
For the first time in four games the Cougars had more than two players into double-figures being led by Vivian Onugha‘s 8th double-double performance of the season.
The sophomore from Nigeria’s 29 minutes on the floor stuffed the stat sheet leading all players with 20 points and 19 rebounds while adding a team high 4 steals and 4 assists. Onugha’s rebound haul was the 6th game of the year hauling down 19 or more rebounds in a contest.
Regina Donanu matched her career high of 17 points and added 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals as Alaina Eck connected on 7-of-11 from the floor for a 14-point outing after being shutout the last time on the floor.
Tying Onugha for a team high 4 assists, Brittany Simpson continued her balanced production each game by adding 7 points and 4 rebounds.
Birthday girl Keyona Hall and Getrude Mapiye each contributed 4 points off the bench contributing to the Cougars’ 34-point advantage in the paint.
Pratt’s season leader in multiple categories La’Kyra Johnson nearly put half of the Beavers’ points on the scoreboard in finishing with 16 points and 6 rebounds. Sofia Bermejo and Jasani Jackson each contributed 5 points each.
