In 1999, the Lady Cardinal basketball team produced the first unbeaten season in the college’s history and Barnes was largely responsible. The two-time first-team All-American was named NJCAA Player of the Year to cap a season in which the Lady Cardinals claimed their fourth national title in six years.

Barnes was named the Region XIV Conference Most Valuable Player as a sophomore. In her first season, she was named the conference’s Freshman of the Year in helping the Lady Cardinals to a national runner-up finish.

In her two seasons, the Lady Cardinals were 70-1 and never lost a conference game.

She played one season at the University of Alabama, where she turned in 15 double-digit scoring performances. Barnes was named the Most Valuable Player in one tournament and named to the all-tournament team in another.