By MATT KING
Daily Journal Sports Writer

Published: Saturday, November 22, 2008
Updated: Saturday, November 22, 2008 8:06 AM CST

PARK HILLS - In a physical and evenly-played basketball game that featured 28 lead changes on Friday, it was fitting that the Mineral Area and NW Mississippi women needed double overtime to decide the outcome.

Tamara Wadlington extended the action with a three-pointer in the closing seconds of the initial extra session, and the visiting Lady Rangers scored the final six points to secure a 78-71 victory at the Bob Sechrest Fieldhouse.

Mineral Area (4-1) entered the contest unbeaten and seemed likely to escape with its fifth consecutive win after sophomore Caitlin Shadbolt made four clutch free throws for a 66-63 lead.

But Wadlington created just enough separation near the right corner to bury a game-tying triple with 6.3 seconds left, and ultimately led all players with 23 points off the bench.

Normanique Johnson put NW Mississippi (5-1) ahead to stay at 72-69 in double overtime with a driving scoop shot while drawing a foul. Her excellent entry pass to Kim Scott moments later continued the final momentum swing.

The lead was exchanged six times in the final 2:19 of regulation, and the Lady Cardinals grabbed a 53-52 edge when broken pressure resulted in an uncontested layup for sophomore LaShayla Bell.

A three from Briley Milfeld with 1:13 left again regained the lead for MAC, which finished just 3-for-17 overall from beyond the arc, but De’Kisha Fondon answered with a long triple at the opposite end.

The Lady Cardinals trailed 58-56 before pulling even on a well-designed lob pass from Milfeld to Bell with 35 seconds remaining. Mineral Area then missed a long runner at the buzzer after Shadbolt drew a charge on defense.

Bell posted a strong double-double with 16 points and 15 rebounds, and also added three steals to pace Mineral Area. Shadbolt tallied 14 points and Jessica McQuin scored 12.

MAC surged ahead 23-17 on a driving layup from Leola Hubbard after a steal from Sherry Glennie produced an easy transition basket. The Lady Cardinals carried a 25-23 advantage into halftime after limiting NW Mississippi to only 28 percent shooting from the field.

Ciera Thomas totaled 16 points after failing to score during the first half, while Ashley Wilson corralled 11 rebounds and four blocks for the Lady Rangers. The final score was the largest margin of the day for either team.

Both clubs finished with 17 turnovers. Mineral Area will host two-time defending Division II champion Kirkwood tonight at 5 p.m.

NW Mississippi  23  35  8  5 - 71

Mineral Area  25  33  8  12 - 78

SCORING:

NW Mississippi - Wadlington 23, Thomas 16, Pointer 8, Scott 8, Wilson 7, Johnson 7, Fondon 6, McKinney 2, Fayne 1. 3-point FG - Wadlington 3, Thomas 2, Pointer 2, Wilson, Fondon.

Mineral Area - Bell 16, Shadbolt 14, McQuin 12, Milfeld 9, Hubbard 8, Gaskin 6, Tisza 4, Evans 2. 3-point FG - Milfeld 2, Hubbard.