Three Rivers edges Mineral Area women despite perimeter slump
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Mineral Area guard P.J. Reutzel (35) attempts a jump shot during the first quarter of an NJCAA women’s basketball game against Lake Land on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in Park Hills. (Matt King, Daily Journal)
POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. – Active perimeter defense helped the Mineral Area women’s basketball team stay within striking distance of 14th-ranked Three Rivers on Saturday.
The Raiders finished just 3-of-19 from beyond the arc, but used interior size to generate some extra shots while point guard Samyah Jordan began to create off the dribble.
Jordan scored nine of her 15 points within a span of six possessions in the fourth quarter, and lifted Three Rivers to a 61-53 victory in the first of three scheduled meetings.
Caitlin Lord finished with 11 points and nine rebounds, and Amelia Corasaniti tallied 11 points with eight rebounds. The Raiders forced 15 turnovers and committed 11.
Three Rivers (17-3, 2-1) rallied from a 32-27 halftime deficit by generating a 16-4 run. Lord ripped away control of a rebound when the Cardinals failed to box out for a tiebreaking putback.
Da’Naya Ross followed with a corner 3-pointer, and the Raiders soon established a 43-36 edge as Corasaniti executed a backdoor cut on a possession reset.
Former Fredericktown star P.J. Reutzel disrupted that momentum with her fifth 3-pointer of the game, and notched a game-high 19 points plus eight rebounds for Mineral Area (11-7, 0-3).
The Raiders answered to build a 47-39 cushion after a Kiera Neal putback before Jordan helped them resist one more threat down the stretch.
Mariah Dallas beat the expiring shot clock with a turning 18-footer after she and Presley Holweg earned perfect trips to the free-throw stripe.
The Cardinals were down 48-46 with 7:55 to play, but Jordan finished two slashing drives and cashed out a stolen pass in between. She then traded triples with Dallas to make it 59-51.
Both teams shot below 40 percent from the field. Neal chipped in eight points with seven rebounds as Three Rivers bounced back from its first Region 16 loss against State Fair.
Dallas achieved a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, but Mineral Area otherwise struggled to generate consistent scoring from close range.
Casey Teague did collect a loose carom and convert an early 3-point play, and Reutzel struck from the outside to give the Cardinals a 13-9 lead through one quarter.
Reutzel was ultimately 5-of-9 on 3-point attempts, and sank three in the second period. She also netted a second-chance layup to regain a 22-21 edge before Holweg hit a fast-break layup.
MAC suffered its fourth consecutive loss, and will host Moberly on Wednesday.
