MAC women equal best start in 11 years
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Mineral Area forward Telia Graham (35) looks to score during second quarter women’s basketball action against John A. Logan on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2023, in Park Hills. (Matt King, mking@dailyjournalonline.com)
By MATT KING
mking@dailyjouralonline.com
MOBERLY, Mo. — The Mineral Area women have equaled their best start since the 2012-13 season after snapping a five-year drought of empty road trips to Region 16 rival Moberly.
The 22nd-ranked Cardinals nullified the effects of 21 turnovers with a superb effort on the boards, and made 23-of-32 free throws to emerge with an 81-64 victory on Saturday night.
Katelyn Chomko netted 15 points, went 6-of-6 from the line and made four steals despite picking up three first-half fouls. Telia Graham worked for an impressive 17 rebounds.
Mineral Area (16-1, 2-0) landed 11 players in the scoring column, and shot 44 percent from the field. Isabel Wallschlaeger dished out a game-high eight assists.
Anjelicia Del Valle tallied eight of her 13 points in the closing minutes, and Deziree’ Bryant finished with 10 to pace Moberly (8-8, 0-2).
The Cardinals produced the last six points of the second quarter to lead 39-28, and continued a 12-0 overall run when Ashley Buragas and Graham turned offensive rebounds into points.
The escalated tempo benefited the visitors, and the margin ballooned to 49-30 when Jaelah Clayton drilled her third 3-pointer of the contest.
The Greyhounds looked to rally when Destiny Bynum-Johnson made a steal and assist to Bryant before finishing her own drive to get within 51-37 late in the third period.
Chomko stemmed that endeavor, however, with a 3-pointer, and Wallschlaeger knocked down another while wide open to restore a 59-38 advantage.
Audra Pasakarnis broke ahead of the pack to score on an outlet pass from Clayton, who then finished the next fast break through contact on a long assist from Wallschlaeger.
Remi Langmaid made it 72-46 with the first of her two triples after Maddie Ayers scored a putback. MAC posted a 26-22 scoring edge in a more relaxed fourth quarter.
Clayton finished with 14 points while going 3-of-5 from beyond the arc, and sank consecutive threes after the Cardinals faced an early 9-4 deficit.
Buragas supplied nine points, and matched Sydney Lewis with eight rebounds. Graham and Ayers each had eight points as Mineral Area won its 10th in a row.
Moberly stayed within 22-19 after Jordan Labrador-Hallett ad Kiana Yesiki each struck from long range, but ultimately tumbled to its sixth consecutive defeat.
Chomko scored a layup following a trapping steal from the blind side near midcourt, and Wallschaeger dished to Graham as the Cardinals created separation at 33-25.
The Cardinals will return home this week to face State Fair on Wednesday and Jefferson on Saturday.
The Greyhounds committed just 13 turnovers, and received eight points each from Labrador-Hallett, Bynum-Johnson, Michaela Guest and Yesiki.
Great job Cards! Matt King, well written story.