The Barton Community College women's basketball team used a 15-0 first-quarter run to take command Saturday evening at Fleske Fieldhouse, closing out the Scooter's Coffee Tip-Off Classic with an 81-50 victory over the Bethany College junior varsity.
Barton improved to 3-0 and will host the Sterling College junior varsity at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10. Bethany fell to 0-5.
Mersadie Spray and Christal Long combined for 13 points during the opening run, which stretched Barton's lead from 3-2 to 18-2. The Cougars led 25-11 after one quarter and 41-29 at halftime before outscoring Bethany 27-10 in the third. Spray scored 13 points in the period, and Laia Romero's jumper in the final second gave Barton a 68-39 lead heading into the fourth.
Spray finished with a game-high 32 points on 12-of-21 shooting and added four steals. Mary Akinde recorded a double-double with 15 points and 16 rebounds, including nine on the offensive end, and blocked two shots. Long finished with 10 points, Romero added nine off the bench and Bryndal Moody handed out a game-high six assists.
Faith Ackerman led Barton with six of its 20 steals as the Cougars turned 35 Bethany turnovers into 34 points. Barton also held a 40-28 rebounding advantage.
Kyra Clark's 20 points led Bethany with Kayte Shively providing 10 off the bench.