Mineral Area women overpower Malcolm X
PARK HILLS – Lainey Bell sank four 3-pointers and scored a season-high 16 points as the Mineral Area women’s basketball team dominated its first game back from the holiday break.
Makenzy Smith contributed 12 points plus six rebounds, and the Lady Cardinals shot 58 percent from the field in the second half to ease past Malcolm X 83-38 on Monday.
Mineral Area (9-3) crashed the glass to establish control in the early minutes. Holly Forbes scored twice through contact, and Allie Golden netted a putback during a 14-2 start.
Forbes grabbed a team-high eight rebounds, and equaled Tyeshia Mitchell with 11 points each as four Mineral Area players landed in double figures.
Madison Reynolds tallied two of her eight points by beating the defense to the basket, and Mitchell completed an aggressive 3-point play to create a 33-16 halftime margin.
The Lady Cardinals grabbed 11 offensive rebounds before the break, but also started 1-of-14 from 3-point range. They responded by going 6-of-9 in the second half.
Bell capped the third quarter with a triple for a 57-30 edge. Mitchell powered in a shot from the post, and Forbes cleanup up the ensuing missed free throw during an earlier 10-0 spurt.
Two 3-pointers by Evi Papadopoulou helped Mineral Area compiled 42 bench points. The Lady Cards will host NW Mississippi at 3 p.m. on Tuesday.
Sophomore center Olivia White missed the first semester of games to an ankle injury, but saw her first game action after being originally designated for a redshirt season.
Briar Johnson pulled away eight rebounds, and Mitchell added three steals in the victory.
Breneka Walker tallied a game-high 21 points for Malcolm X (3-10) after connecting three times from long range in the first half.
The Lady Hawks rotated just six players into the contest, and did not attempt a free throw in the game.
Mineral Area freshman Lainey Bell (24) handles the basketball during a game earlier this season. Bell scored a season-high 16 points on Monday in an 83-38 win over Malcolm X.
