The Barton Community College women's basketball team has been picked to finish fourth in the Jayhawk Conference for the upcoming 2026-27 season, according to voting by the league's head coaches.
The Lady Cougars tied for sixth in the conference standings last season at 12-12 before concluding their campaign at 15-17 following a ninth consecutive appearance in the Region 6 quarterfinals.
After weathering a slow start, Barton found its stride during the second trip through the conference schedule, winning six of seven games during a pivotal stretch with the lone setback coming against No. 20 Hutchinson. The Lady Cougars followed by winning two of their final three regular-season contests to secure a home playoff game and the No. 7 seed for the Region 6/Plains District Tournament.
Barton rolled past Cloud County in the opening round before seeing a late fourth-quarter lead slip away against second-seeded and No. 9-ranked Dodge City, marking the second consecutive season the Lady Cougars' postseason run ended at the hands of the Conquistadors.
For the second straight season, Dodge City enters as the KJCCC favorite, collecting nine first-place votes and 153 total points. Hutchinson follows in second with 143 points and three first-place votes, while Coffeyville occupies third with 130 points.
Barton garnered 114 points for the fourth-place projection, followed by Butler in fifth with 103 points. Colby, led by former Barton head coach Darin Spence, rounds out the top six with 98 points, including the remaining one first-place vote.
Head Coach Alan Clark enters his 11th season at the helm, returning two starters led by All-KJCCC/Region 6 second-team selection Mary Akinde and Great Bend native Mersadie Spray.
Also returning with significant game experience, including time in the starting lineup, are Christal Long and Bryndal Moody, along with fellow sophomores Faith Ackerman and Fortunate Emechete. Redshirt freshman Laura Ariza Ortega returns from injury, joining seven incoming freshmen in rounding out the Lady Cougars' roster.
Barton opens its 2026-27 campaign Tuesday, Nov. 3, christening Fleske Fieldhouse with a 5:30 p.m. contest against Kansas Wesleyan University JV before hosting the Cougar Kick-Off Classic the weekend of Nov. 6.
The complete schedule, along with information on reserved seating tickets, parking passes, Booster Club memberships and Cougar Den memberships, is available at BartonSports.com.