Lady Cardinals are quicker than 'Magic'

By DONN ADAMSON/Daily Journal Sports Editor

PARK HILLS - The Mineral Area College Lady Cardinals were just too quick for the Meramec Lady Magic as time and time again they penetrated the key to put up the score, and when the shot missed, they made the putback with the offensive board. The result was a 74-55 win for the Lady Cardinals.

The Lady Cardinals jumped out to a 9-3 lead early in the game, and Meramec called time to get things straightened out. The Lady Cardinals applied full-court pressure and Erica Anderson made the steal and an easy basket on the inbounds pass by the Lady Magic after the break.

MAC built their lead to 15 points, but the Lady Magic kept pace and would not let it stretch out any further. Anderson had four steals in the half, and the quickness of the guard showed as she made three offensive rebounds as well as 12 points.

Helping out on the top on defense was Anna Brisso. Brisso kept pace with Anderson by scoring 13 points and had two steals for the Lady Cardinals in the half. MAC had 10 steals in the half, part of 15 forced turnovers by Meramec. Erica Hankins and Brisso both hit a three to help keep the Lady Magic honest on defense.

The Lady Cardinals held a 14-point edge at the half, 40-26, but things would get a little scary for the six-player MAC squad as the second half got underway.

Alycea Wallace, wearing the double '00's for the night, already had 10 points in the game when she was called for her fourth foul. With only one sub on the bench, MAC was walking a tightrope with three other players having three fouls.

The Lady Magic picked up on the dilemma and began to run their press as well as being more aggressive on offense, subbing in players constantly as their own fouls began to mount up.

At 9:42 left in the game, Robin Sane picked up her fourth foul, and MAC coach Lana LaBruyere called time to get her team focused on the potential problem. Meramec continued to force things and pulled to within eight points.

Wallace came back into the game, and promptly hit back-to-back baskets, and the Meramec coach called time to regroup his team. At the 5:8 mark, Brisso collected her fourth infraction, but with three players in deep foul trouble, the Lady Cardinals did not go easy.

Sane got on a tear inside, scoring three baskets, and instead of the Lady Magic closing in for the kill on the foul-laden Lady Cardinals, Mineral Area pulled away, and all six players were still eligible to play when the final buzzer sounded.

Mineral Area shot 46 percent from the floor, going 26-56, and made 20-36 from the line.

Mineral Area will be back in action on Wednesday at Crowder.

Meramec 26 29 - 55

Mineral Area 40 34 - 74

SCORING:

Meramec - R Adams 14, H McAllister 12, K Viehland 6, P Barranco 4, J Liston 4, K Bates 3, S Duckworth 2, J Hackerson 2, V Pappademos 2, M Gallagher 1.

3-Pointers -H McAllister 1.

Mineral Area - E Anderson 20, A Brisso 20, A Wallace 14, R Sane 13, E Hankins 4, M Pollard 3.

3-Pointers - E Hankins 1.