Dominant start fuels Barton women to 40-point road victory at Fort Hays Tech Northwest #GoBarton
Eck, Donanu, and Akinde pace efficient offense as Cougars roll to third conference win
A blistering start set the tone for the Barton Community College women's basketball team Tuesday night in Goodland, opening on a 14–2 run and leading wire-to-wire in an 83–43 victory over Fort Hays Tech Northwest inside the Max L. Jones Fieldhouse.
The Cougars held the hosts to single-digit scoring in each of the first two quarters to build a 38–17 halftime cushion, then continued to pull away with 45 second-half points as the margin swelled to 44 late in the action.
Improving to 3–4 in league play and 5–8 overall, Barton wraps up the fall portion of the schedule on Saturday hosting Garden City in a 2:00 p.m. tip-off. Fort Hays Tech Northwest remains winless at 0–6 in conference play and 0–12 on the season.
Barton's balanced and efficient attack was led by Alaina Eck's game-high 21 points, the sophomore guard adding five rebounds, two steals, and a 7-of-10 effort at the line. Regina Donanu sparked the Cougars off the bench, delivering 20 points on 9-of-11 shooting while contributing four rebounds. Mary Akinde anchored the interior, posting 15 points and a game-high 11 rebounds for her second straight and third double-double of the season. Making her second consecutive start directing the offense, Bryndal Moody added three assists with zero turnovers along with two rebounds and four points.
Akinde's presence on the glass, combined with seven points and seven rebounds from Christal Long and another career-high seven rebounds from Fortunate Emechete, helped Barton dominate the Tigers 48–26 on the boards, including 13 offensive rebounds.
The Cougars shot 49.1% from the field, 33.3% from beyond the arc, and connected on a season-high 22 made free throws in 33 attempts (66.7%).
Fort Hays Tech Northwest was held to 22.6% shooting and just 5-of-32 from deep but converted 10-of-12 at the line (83.3%). Two Tigers reached double-figures, led by Vitoria Fernandes' 14 points and five rebounds, while Zoey Burton added 11 off the bench.