Lady Cardinals push State Fair to O.T., finish with four

By DONN ADAMSON\Daily Journal Sports Editor

SEEDILY -

The MAC Lady Cardinal gave a gutsy performance Saturday evening as they took a 61-55 loss from the State Fair Lady Roadrunners. MAC fought back from an 11-point deficit to make it to overtime, but finished the game with only four players on the floor as the OT took its toll of fouls on the seven member squad.

State Fair took over the overtime period hitting their first two baskets and scoring 10 points in overtime, while allowing the Lady Cardinals only two baskets.

The Lady Cardinals took nearly two minutes before making a single point, but it didn't matter as State Fair could only get two points of their own during the same time. MAC would score in spurts, the first being a six-point run to go up 6-2. State Fair tied it up at 6-6, and the Lady Cardinals made their biggest rush of points with a 12-1 run.

Trailing 24-15, State Fair dialed long distance to get back in the game. Hitting back-to-back threes brought the Lady Roadrunners to within three points, and the margin stayed there until the half with the Lady Cardinals leading 25-22.

Even though the Lady Cardinals had the lead, the seven-player squad had contracted a large amount of fouls with three players having three each.

The start of the second half had very few points and a lot of turnovers as the defense stiffened for both teams. Robin Sane scored the first two with four minutes already ticked off of the clock. State Fair called for time, and the results were beneficial as Sicarra Farris hit a two and a three to tie the game at 27-27.

Melissa Pollard hit a 10 footer on MAC's next possession to retake the lead for the visitors, and Anderson made one of two free throws to give the Lady Cardinals their half-time lead again.

The scoreboard couldn't keep up with MAC's scoring when on their next possession Erica Anderson drove the baseline and made the lay-up and was fouled on the shot. Actually, for some unknown reason the scoreboard turned off and time had to be called to get it back into working order.

Anderson missed the free throw after the long delay, but on State Fair's following possession Sane picked up her fourth foul with 13:30 left in the game. The Lady Roadrunners took over the scoring for the next five minutes, finally taking the lead at 35-34.

The Lady Roadrunners not only took the lead, but they connected on their next four shots to go up 43- 34, and Coach Lana LaBruyere called for a time-out to help the Lady Cardinals get their act together.

State Fair's defense kept the Lady Cardinals at bay, and with 4:43 left in the game the first Lady Cardinal fouled out leaving only one left on the bench. Worse yet, was the fact that both free throws were made giving the Lady Roadrunners a double-digit lead 47-46.

Sane back in the game after her four-foul sit-out, put the game back into a single-digit lead for the home team. Sane would take a pass from Erica Hankins on the next possession and score three more with the bucket and a foul.

Alycea Wallace would make a steal on defense and converted it into points on the other end for the Lady Cardinals, but on the other end a second MAC player would foul out with less than two minutes left. Mineral Area had pulled to within four points at the time.

Wallace again made the drive to the basket for two and try for a third with the foul, but on the play, Sane came up limping with no reserves for MAC on the bench. State Fair called time-out, and Wallace made the free throw upon her return, making the score 50-49.

State Fair had their trouble handling the ball and with 26 seconds on the clock Mineral Area with the ball called time. Their attempt to score never happened as the Lady Cardinals turned the ball over and State Fair was sent to the line with nine seconds left where they made one.

Wallace took the ball to the hoop to tie the game at 51-51, but on State Fair's inept attempt to get a last shot off, Sarah Dietiker took a fall and came up injured as time ran out in regulation play.

The Lady Cardinals will play their games at home this week with Forest Park on Wednesday and Meramec on Saturday. Both games start at 5 p.m.

Mineral Area 25 26 4 - 55

State Fair 22 29 10 - 61

SCORING:

Mineral Area - A Wallace 17, R Sane 15, A Brisso 9, E Anderson 7, M Pollard 4, E Hankins 3.

3-Pointers - E Hankins 1.

State Fair - B Purnell 20, S Farris 15, M Jenkins 6, C Wade 6, B Peters 4, M Gaines 4, A Sutcliff 4, S York 2.