By MATT KING / Daily Journal Sports Writer

Published: Sunday, November 27, 2005
Updated: Saturday, November 26, 2005 11:44 PM CST

PARK HILLS - Team depth is a luxury that the MAC Lady Cardinals have savored as a key to their success throughout the early part of this basketball season after being hampered by a lack of it in recent years.

Mineral Area placed 10 players in the scoring column, and capitalized on its aggressive defense to win a tough battle of attrition on Saturday, outlasting visiting Southwestern Illinois for a 70-59 victory.

The contest was tied at 47-47 with 9:00 remaining and appeared to be headed to the wire, but the Lady Cardinals created a flurry of steals on the Blue Storm's side of the midcourt stripe to spearhead a decisive 14-0 scoring run. MAC (7-1) forced 26 turnovers overall to earn its third straight win.

The early momentum rested solely with the visitors, as SWIC dominated the boards and executed several good plays which resulted in high-percentage shots near the basket.

Tenise Williams scored with a putback on the third shot during one possession, and Jenee Webb lifted the Blue Storm to a 13-4 lead by swishing a jump shot on a quick cross-over move.

The Lady Cardinals turned up the pressure and deflected several passes to slow down the SW Illinois attack. Mayra Rios knocked down a three-pointer after being left open, and Dawn Leathers found the range from the deep baseline to cut the deficit to 17-15. Erica Anderson stole an errant pass moments and drove the distance for a go-ahead layup.

SWIC (2-2) quickly piled up a double-digit foul total in the first half, allowing the Lady Cardinals to build their lead from the foul line. Rios and Anderson each made a pair of free throws to stretch the halftime margin to 34-29.

Mineral Area suddenly watched its lead melt away, as careless ball-handling resulted in five turnovers during a five-minute scoring drought to begin the second half. Danielle Tiller capped an 11-0 run with an uncontested putback following a steal.

Webb connected from three-point range, and drilled a mid-range jumper on consecutive possessions to give the Blue Storm its largest lead of the night at 43-37, but the Lady Cardinals would use their speed and conditioning to increase the tempo and control the remainder of the action.

Rapid ball movement on two straight series set up baskets by Britany Sublett and Fran Henderson, and Whitney Washington hit a big three-pointer to propel MAC back in front at 50-47.

Dionn Jackson continued the rally by turning a steal into a conventional three-point play, then added another transition layup to make it a 10-point game.

Williams scored to bring SWIC within 65-59 with 38 seconds left, but Rios intercepted a pass and put the game away with a driving layup.

Rios led Mineral Area in scoring with 13 points, while Washington and Anderson each added 11.

Williams posted an impressive double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Blue Storm. Webb and Tiller scored 14 points apiece.

MAC will host Lewis & Clark at home on Wednesday.

SW Illinois 29 30 - 59

Mineral Area 34 36 - 70

SCORING:

Mineral Area - Rios 13, Washington 11, Anderson 11, Sublett 8, Jackson 7, Leathers 6, Henderson 5, Rozenfeld 4, Whitaker 3, Hollins 2.

3-pointers - Washington 2, Rios 2, Whitaker.