Cloud County Women's Basketball Records Bounce-Back Win Against Barton
Taking to the floor just three days after suffering their first loss of the season to Dodge City, the Cloud County Community College women's basketball team bounced back in a big way as the T-Birds picked up a 70-44 home victory over Barton Community College in Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference play on Tuesday, November 26. Cloud County's victory ended a ten-game losing streak to Barton, dating back to 2020.
Cloud County opened the contest by connecting on four three-pointers, including three from freshman guard Bre Frazier, to go up 12-6 midway through the first quarter. Frazier later scored on a fast break layup following a steal by freshman guard DaNae Crosby. The T-Birds forced Barton into 11 turnovers in the opening frame. Sophomore guard TiAna Davis added a pair of three-pointers of her own and Cloud County led 21-12 at the end of the first quarter.
The T-Birds battled through foul trouble in the second quarter. Cloud County was whistled for five more fouls than the Cougars through the first two quarters, and Barton attempted 13 free-throws to just one free-throw attempt for the T-Birds in the opening half of play. 6-foot-2 sophomore forward Vivian Onugha led Barton with 10 points and 14 rebounds in the first half, while freshman guards Alaina Eck and Keyona Hall were perfect from the free-throw line, helping the Cougars trim Cloud County's lead down to six points at 30-24 headed to the locker room.
Barton was ice cold in the third quarter. The Cougars ended the period just 1-of-18 (5.6 percent) from the field and 0-of-7 from three-point range. The T-Birds ended the third stanza on a 6-0 run that included a three-pointer from Davis and free-throws from sophomores Kiley Smich and Meilin Guo to extend its lead to double-digits at 46-35. Frazier and freshman forward Talasia Thomas each added a three-pointer of their own in the third quarter.
Cloud County began the fourth quarter on an 18-5 run, capped off by back-to-back baskets in the paint by Thomas, to lead 64-40 with 3:13 to go. Guo and Wurtz also added baskets in the lane down the stretch, and Wurtz closed the game out with two free-throws in the final minute to give the T-Birds the 26 point victory.
Cloud County outscored Barton 28-22 in points in the paint, 10-0 in fast break points, and 21-4 in points off turnovers. The T-Birds ended the contest shooting 26-of-67 (38.8 percent) from the field, complemented by a 9-of-21 (42.9 percent) performance from behind the arc. Cloud County was 9-of-13 (69.2 percent) from the charity stripe.
Barton only made 11-of-56 (19.6 percent) shots from the floor. The Cougars were just 3-of-33 (9.0 percent) from the field in the second-half, and the team went 0-of-11 from long-range for the game. Barton also had 24 turnovers on the night.
Frazier hit on 66.7 percent (12-of-18) of her attempts from the floor as the freshman guard ended the game with a season-high 30 points. Davis joined Frazier in double-figures with 11 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Thomas pocketed nine points. Crosby finished with five points and three steals, while Petersen, Guo and Wurtz had four points each.
Onugha did not score in the second-half but still paced the Cougars with 10 points and a game-high 20 rebounds, including 13 defensive boards. Sophomore guard Brittany Simpson chipped in eight points and four rebounds.
Cloud County (7-1, 2-1 KJCCC) returns to action Saturday, November 30 with a 1 pm (MST) tip-off scheduled against Fort Hays Tech Northwest at Max L. Jones Fieldhouse in Goodland, Kansas. Fort Hays Tech Northwest is still in search of its first win of the season. Fort Hays Tech Northwest is 0-7 overall and 0-3 in KJCCC action following losses to Coffeyville, Hutchinson and Garden City to begin conference play.