The Cloud County Lady Thunderbirds used a big fourth quarter to pull away from Barton County and beat the Cougars 67-52. 

Chelcie Kizart took over in the second half scoring 15 of her team high 17 points after the break. She drained four second half threes to help Cloud break a halftime tie and bury the Cougars.

Cloud connected on 11-25 from three on the night for 44%. It was their second best shooting effort from deep this year.

The Lady Thunderbirds came out with the hot hand to start the game but quickly lost traction. Kaley Broeckleman has made a habit of putting Cloud County up early. She did just that as she scored eight of the first ten points for Cloud and fueled a 19-7 start.

Barton then closed the first quarter on a 7-0 run and rattled off 15 in a row to the 7:30 mark of the 2nd quarter to erase Cloud's lead and go ahead 22-19. The T-Birds would charge back and tie it before half thanks to a three from Gabrielle Figgers. Cloud and Barton went into the break tied at 28. 

The T-Birds and Cougars battled back and forth in the 3rd quarter. Barton took a 39-37 lead with 2:45 to play in the 3rd quarter. Kristina Farber helped spark a 24-4 run from there that helped Cloud pull away and put the game on ice. Farber had one of her strongest performances of the season with 10 points, 5 rebounds and 4 blocks.  

Just five T-Birds scored and all five scored in double figures. Head Coach Brett Erkenbrack has used the same starting five in nearly every contest this season. His five starters all scored in double figures on the night.

Kizart led Cloud with 17 points, 6 assists, and 6 rebounds. Broeckelman scored 15 and pulled down 8 rebounds. Figgers drained four threes in rout to her 14 points.

Erin Alexander scored 11 points and pulled down 8 rebounds. Farber had 10 points. Farber and Alexander were a force in the front court combining for 9 blocks on the night. Alexander ranks in the top 5 in the nation in blocks. She had 5 against the Cougars.

Cloud County had a season high 12 blocks as a team in the contest. 

The Thunderbirds shot 39.7% from the field but were 50% in the second half. The T-Birds out-rebounded Barton 46-45.

Cloud improves to 14-8 on the year and 6-5 in Jayhawk play. They remain in a tie for seventh place in the league. The T-Birds enter a difficult stretch as they travel to Garden City on Saturday and Dodge City on Monday.