By DONN ADAMSON\Daily Journal Sports Editor

Published: Sunday, November 13, 2005
Updated: Sunday, November 13, 2005 7:03 AM CST

HILLSBORO - The Mineral Area Lady Cardinals sent in shifts of platoons as they used a runaway period in the first half of their game with the South Suburban Lady Bulldogs in the Holiday Inn Express Classic held at Jefferson College on Saturday to claim a 92-67 win and improve to 3-0 on the season.

Holding a 48-21 lead at the half, the Lady Cardinals had enough to carry them to the end of the game.

“I didn't feel we did as well in the second half of play,” said MAC coach Lana LaBruyere. “They (Suburban) slowed us down in the second half and we had too many turnovers, and they were able to make many breakaways on them.”

Mineral Area's first half was nearly played to perfection. Holding only a 9-6 lead after the first four minutes of play, the Lady Cardinals went on a 19-7 run in the next eight minutes of play, changing nearly their whole line-up twice during the stretch.

The Lady Cardinals continued to score at will during the remainder of the half, while they made the Lady Bulldogs earn every point with a stiff pressing defense. MAC took advantage of Suburban's mistakes as hey forced the Lady Bulldogs to turn the ball over 15 times in the 20 minutes of play. MAC only had eight turnovers in the first half.

Mineral Area hit from outside as Marquette Hollins, Whitney Washington, and Mayra Rios hit one three-pointer each in the early going. Hollins clipped another, a 23 footer, at the buzzer to give MAC their 27-point lead.

However, Coach LaBruyere was not completely pleased with her team's play in the first half. “Our post players were open and we didn't get the ball to them as much as we should,” said LaBruyere.

The last six minutes of the first half saw both teams pile on the fouls, something that would have been scary for the Lady Cardinals last year, but not this year. However, when the second half started, the Lady Cardinals continued to keep their fouling active, while Suburban put theirs on hold. MAC collected five fouls within the first two minutes of the half.

“They were pushing the ball up the court to make lay-ups, and we were fouling instead of stopping them,” said LaBruyere. “We just weren't as intense in the second half. We've got to learn to play 40 minutes of basketball.”

The Lady Cardinals made their first turnover of the second half and Coach LaBruyere called time, to get her players oriented. Immediately after the break, Suburban stole the ball again and converted it into two points with Jasmine Washington following the breakaway for the putback basket. A not-so-happy LaBruyere was on the floor again calling for time.

Meanwhile on offense Fran Henderson became the go-to girl as she scored six of the Lady Cardinals first nine points of the half. After the slow start, Mineral Area began to feed their post players for quick baskets, and it enabled them to keep pace with a come-from-behind hungry Suburban team.

Henderson collected her fourth foul with 13:24 left in the game and took the bench. South Suburban was able to play with MAC using defensive pressure, but too many turnovers began to once again take its toll on the Lady Bulldogs.

MAC reached its 10th foul of the half with still 8:20 on the clock. Henderson came back to the floor but not for long as she fouled out with 4:29 left, something the Lady Cardinals were not so concerned with as they were last year when they played much of the season with only six players.

The Lady Bulldogs were able to lower the lead to 18 points late in the half, but Mineral Area responded well and pulled away again in the final minutes.

Britany Sublett led all scorers with 17 points, and 5'6” guard Mayra Rios was tops in rebounding with eight for Mineral Area. Sublett had six boards and Henderson grabbed down five. Washington was top scorer for the Lady Bulldogs with 16 and seven rebounds.

South Suburban 21 46 - 67

Mineral Area 48 44 - 92

SCORING -

South Suburban - Washington 16, Ridener 10, Johnson 7, Higgs 7, Chapman 7, Sander 6, Carter 5, Allen 4, Carson 3, Morris 1, Anderson 1.

3-Pointers - Ridener 1.

Mineral Area - Sublett 17, Henderson 16, E Anderson 13, Rios 10, Hollins 8, Leathers 8, Rozenfeld 8, Washington 8, Jackson 2, Whitiker 2.

3-Pointers - Washington 2, Hollins 2, Rios 1.