Mineral Area guard Presley Holweg (24) shoots a 3-pointer as Moberly forward Calise Chisholm (30) defends during first quarter women’s basketball action on Saturday night in Park Hills. (Matt King, Daily Journal)
By MATT KING
mking@dailyjournalonline.com
PARK HILLS – Sophomore transfer point guard Jeanie Scott has been a major factor in a resurgent season for the Moberly women’s basketball team.
The Greyhounds called upon their leading scorer when Mineral Area proved difficult to shake on Saturday evening, and Scott delivered in clutch fashion.
Moberly overcame 18 turnovers by sinking 21-of-26 free throws, and played stout interior defense to triumph 60-53 for its 12th consecutive victory.
Mineral Area guard Jaelah Clayton (10) looks to attack as Moberly forward Princess Ibeh (15) defends during second quarter women’s basketball action on Saturday night in Park Hills. (Matt King, Daily Journal)
Scott totaled 21 points, six rebounds and three assists, and nailed a tiebreaking pull-up jumper with 4:35 remaining to ignite a 13-6 closing run
She then capitalized at the line as the Cardinals exceeded the limit before the Greyhounds committed their first foul of the fourth quarter. A driving 3-point play made the margin 56-48.
Mineral Area answered with a 3-pointer from Farmington graduate Skylar Sweeney, but was unable to capitalize on a diving steal by Madison Ayers as Scott breifly fumbled her dribble.
Angel Dickerson finished with 12 points, and Calise Chisholm added 10 for Moberly (16-1, 2-0). Forward Princess Ibeh claimed 10 of her game-high 12 rebounds in the second half.
The Cardinals navigated their second outing since losing starting forward Mariah Dallas to a season-ending injury during practice earlier in the week.
Ashley Baragas posted team highs with 12 points and nine rebounds, earning most of that production while blanketed by multiple defenders in the paint. She also chipped in three steals.
Mineral Area guard Skylar Sweeney (1) watches her 3-point shot connect against Moberly during first quarter women’s basketball action on Saturday night in Park Hills. (Matt King, Daily Journal)
Mineral Area (14-4, 0-2) trailed 35-25 early in the third quarter, but strung together several defensive stops while fighting back with a 14-3 run.
Casey Teague knocked down a 14-footer near the left elbow, and Buragas scored twice on a putback and entry pass from Karma Jones.
Ayers contributed a 3-pointer, and Presley Holweg connected from the deep right wing, sending the Cardinals to the fourth quarter with a 39-38 edge.
Ibeh powered in for a basket and contact, and Moberly regained the lead before Holweg sprang Jaelah Clayton for a transition layup. Ayers followed with a steal and score to make it 47-47.
Ayers ended with eight points and three steals. Holweg cracked the starting lineup for Mineral Area, and dished out six assists while equaling Jones with seven points each.
The Cardinals sustained only 11 turnovers in the game, but could not generate the same frequency of trips to the charity stripe at 5-of-9 overall.
MAC faced an immediate setback when Teague committed two fouls in the first 54 seconds. Buragas netted her first basket on a second chance just before halftime, resulting in a 31-25 margin.
Mineral Area guard Marceline Clermont finishes a fast-break layup against Moberly during first quarter women’s basketball action on Saturday night in Park Hills. (Matt King, Daily Journal)
Holweg followed a miss with a successful left-handed flip off the glass, then created a steal that gave Marceline Clermont an unimpeded path to the goal early on.
Moberly consistently found ways to attack and induce contact, whether passing or driving, and closed the first quarter ahead 14-8 after Scott traded 3-pointers with Ayers.
Dickerson netted eight points in the second for Moberly – including a physical force in traffic that fell through the rim – to trump a couple of solid runners by Jones.
Victoria Escribano added eight points for the Greyhounds.
Kinley Norris posted the best 3-point shooting percentage in Region 16 prior to the holiday break, but came up empty for the Cardinals on five chances in a reserve role.
Mineral Area will travel to State Fair on Wednesday.
Mineral Area guard Karma Jones (3) drives against Moberly guard Jeanie Scott (2) during second quarter women’s basketball action on Saturday night in Park Hills. (Matt King, Daily Journal)
Mario Bautista
