Defense saves the Cardinals

By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Cardinal Mooney High girls basketball coach Roy Nard still hasn't figured how to get his team to shoot the ball well.
Their woes continued Monday night against Salem in a non-conference game, but an old standby -- defense -- saved the Cardinals, in a 41-36 victory.
"We haven't shot the ball well all year and we've been horrible at the free throw line, but the defense held us in tonight," Nard said.
The Cardinals (3-2) made just 17-of-51 shots (33.3 percent) and were 5-of-8 at the line, but two of those free throws, by junior Natalie Damiano, came in the final 17 seconds and iced the victory.
The Cardinals took a 33-28 lead into the final period and extended that to 37-30 with four minutes remaining, but then committed six straight turnovers, allowing the Quakers (5-2) to battle back to within one point, 37-36.
Salem used a pressing defense that led to two quick buckets, the second by Abby Markovich with less than 50 seconds remaining.
Finale: Junior Karla Fedina, who had four of her nine points in the final period, made an easy layup with 20 seconds remaining as the Cardinals broke the press.
Salem then turned the ball over with 18 seconds remaining and Damiano was fouled and hit the two free throws to ensure the win.
Junior Aieshya Dixon led the Cardinals with 15 points, including eight in the third period.
Sophomore Alyson Cotter paced the Quakers with 16 points, including a pair of 3-point goals, while Lauren Teal added 10 points.
"We didn't shoot well or play at either end of the court very well," Salem coach Steve Stewart said. "We just didn't come ready to play and that's my fault. I should have had them ready to play."
Dry spell: Mooney jumped out to a 6-2 lead with 4:40 remaining in the first quarter, but wouldn't score another point until the final seconds of the period when senior Lori Patrone drilled a 3-point goal with two seconds remaining.
During that dry spell, the Quakers took an 11-6 lead and led 11-9 at the quarter.
Mooney tied the game at 11 on a free throw by Dixon and then went on a 10-2 run to end the half for a 21-13 advantage.
Dixon took control for the Cardinals in the third period as she opened with a three-point play and added three more buckets. But the Quakers matched them basket for basket and were within two points, 30-28, before Fedina hit a 3-pointer in the final seconds to give the Cardinals a 33-28 margin.
"I look at this team and think that we should be 4-1 right now, but the way we've played I have to be happy with 3-2," Nard said. "We've got Ursuline next so things aren't going to get any easier."
mollica@vindy.com