Phil Lee

LIBERAL, Kan. – The Seward County Community College women’s basketball surged in the fourth quarter and got back on the winning track with a 59-53 victory over the Barton Community College Lady Cougars on Wednesday at the Greenhouse.

The Lady Saints, who remained unbeaten at home with a 6-0 mark, improved to 4-2 in the Jayhawk Conference and 9-3 overall. Seward finishes its first half schedule with a game against Fort Hays Tech Northwest at 6 p.m. on Saturday in the Greenhouse.

SCCC held a slim 28-25 lead at the half, but the third quarter proved to be a problem once again. Just like in the contest against Dodge City, Seward could not put the ball through the hoop and was only 1-of-22 in the third stanza. The Lady Saints, who were held to just four points with their only other points coming from the free-throw line, trailed 37-32 heading into the fourth quarter.

But this time the outcome would be different than at Dodge City. Seward clawed back and with the game tied at 49 with 2:53 left in the fourth, Avery Marchino drained a three and the Lady Saints were up, 52-49. Barton cut the lead to one, but Kylee Hunt hit a jumper and added two free throws in the final minute to give SCCC a 56-51 margin and Seward went on to the win. SCCC outscored Barton, 27-16, in the final quarter.

Hunt had 16 points and Marchino added 10 points for the Lady Saints, who had nine players with points. Seward, which has won five of its last six games, played strong defense, turning up the pressure and forcing 26 turnovers while only committing 16 of its own.

Regina Donanu had 17 points, Vivian Onugha scored 13 and Brittany Simpson chipped in with 10 points for Barton, which fell to 1-6 in conference play and 5-8 overall. Liberal High School graduate and former Lady Redskin Keyona Hall had two points and five rebounds in over 39 minutes for Barton.

Seward hosts Fort Hays Tech Saturday at 6pm on 107.5.