Girls Prep Basketbal: Cicardi's big effort fuels Lady Panthers

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Taylor Cicardi scored half of her 20 points in the fourth quarter, when Pinckneyville turned the momentum in its favor Monday and went on to claim a 49-37 non-conference victory over Carterville.

Pinckneyville was playing without four players who are serving disciplinary suspensions, while Carterville took the first court for the first time since the holidays after last week's lone game was postponed by weather.

The Lady Panthers took a 10-7 lead after the first quarter, but Carterville went on an 11-4 run to pull ahead 18-14 at the halftime break.

Pinckneyville scored the first five points after the break to go in front, the first of five lead changes in the third period. But when Pinckneyville scored to take a 29-27 lead into the fourth quarter, it was the start of a 12-1 run that put the Lady Panthers ahead to stay.

Cicardi dropped in a a layup and foul at the 6:19 mark that made it 36-27, then after a Carterville free throw, Lindsey Winter sank a 3-pointer to make it an 11-point margin and provide the proverbial dagger.

Emily Miller added 11 points, Cheyanne Conner chipped in seven and Winter had six for Pinckneyville, which made five 3-pointers and finished 14-of-22 from the foul line.

"Taylor Cicardi was brilliant tonight with a double-double," Lady Panthers coach Alan Engelhardt said. "She gave us great effort, hitting the glass and really running the floor well. I was really pleased with our effort again."

Kelsea Ashton led Carterville with 15 points, including all seven of her team's points in the first quarter.

Pinckneyville (14-5) visits Anna-Jonesboto Tuesday.

-Jeff Profitt contributed