By DONN ADAMSON\Daily Journal Sports Editor

Published: Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Updated: Tuesday, December 28, 2004 10:48 AM CST

MEMPHIS - The Mineral Area College Lady Cardinals basketball team became depleted due to injury, and on Monday they were shortened a little more as one of the players was unable to join them due to holiday travel. The Lady Cardinals made do with what they had in their first game of the SW Tennessee Classic as they defeated Dyersburg State 71-61.

"The last 2-3 minutes were a little scary," said Coach Lana LaBruyere in reference to foul trouble for her 7-4 team, "but we were able to make it. It was just good to get a win after being off for the past 14 days."

The Lady Cardinals gained enough of a lead in the first half, 38-27, to play match-up with Dyersburg in the second half.

Alycea Wallace led the team in scoring with 23 points. Erica Anderson followed with 20 points, making four threes in the game. Danielle MacBride had 13, and Robin Sane scored 10 points. Anna Brisso had three and Sarah scored two points.

The Lady Cardinals will take on the host team, SW Tennessee, at 6 p.m. today.