Inside game leads Barton women to fifth straight win over Independence #GoBarton

The inside game of Barton Community College women's basketball team helped produce a twenty-four point differential in the paint Wednesday evening on the road for a 69-49 victory at Independence Community College.

The Cougars rattled off a pair of 8-0 stretches in the first quarter to lead by eleven before doubling up the Pirates again in the second frame to build a twenty-six point lead before settling in for a twenty-three point advantage at the halftime break.

Leading by 21 entering the fourth quarter, Independence would make things interesting cutting Barton's lead down to 11 with 3:53 to play before the Cougars put it in cruise control scoring 11 of the final 14 points including the final nine in securing a 20-point victory to complete the season sweep over the Pirates and winning their fifth straight in the series including the last two trips to the ICC Field House.

Continuing to receive votes in the latest national poll, Barton improves to 9-4 in KJCCC play and 14-5 overall while Independence slips to 5-8 in league and 11-8 on the season.

Next up is Hall of Fame Saturday as Barton takes the floor for a 5:30 p.m. tip hosting Pratt Community College, a Beaver squad who protected home court knocking off the then-25th ranked Cougars by ten points back on November 21.

The freshman duo of Vivian Onugha and Vera Ojenuwa had monster evenings dominating the inside game combining for 52 points and 32 rebounds leading Barton to a plus-23 advantage on the glass.

Onugha led the scoring with a career high 29 points and 14 rebounds for her 7th double-double of the year while Ojenuwa posted a pair of career highs leading the rebounding with 18 boards and tacking on 23 points for her 9th double-double of the season.

Region leading distributors Quezia Bertoni and Grace John dished out 9 and 5 assists respectively while adding 14 points combined.

The Cougars shot 42.9% on the evening but sank a season low 2-of-18 (11.1%) beyond the arc with Tatum Boettjer and John draining the lone makes from long distance.

Independence also placed two players in double figures, doing damage from the outside on a combined 6-of-15 from deep with Jasirae Vick leading with 22 points and Merveille Nkoyock adding 12 points.

SERIES NOTES:
- Barton has won the last 5 in the series
- Teams have split the last ten meetings
- Barton has won the last two in Independence
- Independence leads the series 8-5 in Independence
- Independence leads the overall series 26-21