Marquette routs Braves
GLADSTONE — The Marquette girls basketball team looked dominant here Tuesday night.
The Redettes used a third quarter spurt to defeat the Gladstone Braves 60-32 in a Great Northern Conference match-up.
Marquette coach Ben Smith liked his team’s work on the glass as the Redettes dominated 50-17.
“I thought we competed well for rebounds,” said Smith. “It’s easy to do when you’re flying around but it’s hard to do when they box you out and you hold up and don’t go over the back.”
Smith also liked the way his team picked up the tempo, which allowed the Redettes to pull away.
“We were able to turn the tempo a little more in our favor after the start,” said Smith. “We were able to get a few take aways and get a few jump shots to extend the lead.”
Gladstone coach Eric Lundin pointed to the lack of depth for his team’s struggles in the second half.
“I think our depth right now played into our second half performance,” said Lundin. “We have a limited bench right now and I think that played into it.”
Both teams started slow but Marquette was able to string together a 6-0 run at the end of the first quarter to take a 12-6 lead.
The second quarter stayed pretty even as neither team was able to take control of the game.
That changed in the third quarter as the Redettes came storming out as they were able to put pressure on the Braves and force eight turnovers. Marquette opened the quarter on a 16-0 run and finished the quarter with a 46-21 lead.
“We just relaxed a little bit,” said Smith. “We were able to make some shots.”
The scoring stayed pretty even in the fourth quarter as Marquette outscored Gladstone 14-11 to wrap up the victory.
Marquette senior Amber Huebner led the way as she scored 19 points and grabbed nine rebounds.
Gladstone senior Alyssa Polley had 15 points, including five 3-point shots. She also blocked two shots.
Thursday, Marquette will host Escanaba and Gladstone will visit Ishpeming.
Marquette 12 11 23 14 — 60
Gladstone 6 9 6 11 — 32
Marquette: Peterson 3, Huebner 19, Cl Hale 13, Hicks 5, Pliska 3, Grange 7, Miller 8, Warchock 2; FT: 8-13; F: 8; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Peterson 1, Huebner 1, Cl Hale 3, Hicks 1.
Gladstone: Ahlgren 5, Hardwick 2, Hunter 10, Polley 15; FT: 4-9; F: 8; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Polley 5, Ahlgren 1.