LIBERAL -- Twenty-seven Barton County turnovers proved too much to overcome as Seward County outscored the Cougar women 27-16 in the fourth quarter for a 59-53 Jayhawk Conference victory at the Greenhouse.
The Saints (9-3, 4-2 Jayhawk) drop the Cougars (5-8, 1-6 Jayhawk). Barton plays at No. 5 Dodge City Saturday.
The Cougars finished at 35.5-percent from the floor but 1-of-12 from the three-point line plus 27 turnovers ultimately led to a plus 23-point Saints advantage.
The Saints overcame 4% third-quarter shooting and finished 27% and 19% from behind the arch.
Two Saints put up double-figures led by Kylee Hunt's 16 points, two assists and two steals as Avery Marchino added 10 points.
Regina Donanu scored 16 of her game high 18 points in the first half to go with four rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Limiting its 18 first half turnovers to just two in the third quarter and picking up the defensive intensity, the Cougars erased a three point halftime deficit into a five point, 37-32 lead heading into the final frame outscoring the Saints 12-4, while holding Seward County to just 1-for-22 shooting in the quarter.
The tide quickly turned in favor of Seward County over the final 10-minutes scoring the opening five points before answering with an 8-0 run following Vivian Onugha's 1-of-2 trip at the line capping Barton's 5-0 response for their final lead of 43-39 with 7:04 to play, with the final separation needed coming in the final minute behind a 7-2 run.
Hampered by first half foul trouble, Onugha scored nine of her 10 points in second half action while hauling in 13 rebounds for her second straight and ninth double-double of the season.
Brittany Simpson flirted with her first collegiate double-double scoring all her points with Barton's final 10 points on the night to go along with a career best nine rebound effort.
Barton 12 13 12 16 — 53
Seward 13 15 4 27 — 59
BARTON (5-8, 1-6) (FG 3 FT TP)—Onugha 5-12 3-8 13; Donanu 6-17 (1-6) 5-5 18; Eck 1-8 (0-1) 0-0 2; Delisle 0-1 0-0 0; Simpson 5-9 (0-3) 0-2 10; Hall 1-5 0-0 2; Mapiye 2-5 0-0 4; Totals 22-62 (1-12) 8-15 53
SEWARD (9-3, 4-2) (FG 3 FT TP)—Totals (6-31)
Rebounds—BC 51 (Onugha 13); SC (). Assists—BC 10 (Onugha 3, Donanu 3); SC (). Steals—BC 7 (Onugha 2, Donanu 2); SC ()
JAYHAWK WOMEN
Hutchinson 6-0 12-0
Dodge City 6-0 11-1
Cloud 5-2 10-2
Coffeyville 4-2 9-2
Butler 4-2 9-2
Seward 4-2 9-3
Garden City 4-3 7-5
Cowley 4-3 9-3
Colby 3-4 8-5
Pratt 1-5 6-6
Barton 1-6 5-8
Independence 0-5 1-10
Hays Northwest 0-7 0-11
12-11—Seward 59, Barton 53; Hutchinson 45, Garden City 44; Butler 69, Colby 34; Cloud 81, Coffeyville 55; Pratt 65, Hays NW 57
12-14--Barton at Dodge City; Cowley at Coffeyville; Butler at Independence; Hutchinson at Cloud; Hays NW at Seward; Colby at Pratt
