Dennis Grall | Daily Press Nicole Kamin of Escanaba dribbles around Marquette defender Aspen Michelin in the second quarter Tuesday at Escanaba. Kamin had 16 points but the Eskymos lost 64-36.

ESCANABA — Matching up with Marquette proved difficult for the Escanaba girls Tuesday night as they dropped a 64-36 basketball decision to the third-ranked Redettes.

Marquette, showing an overall height advantage, worked the ball inside early and often in this Great Northern Conference contest.

The Redettes gained a 17-5 advantage on junior Sofia Vanden Ende’s shot from the lane late in the first quarter.

Esky responded with 10 unanswered points, climbing within 17-15 on a seven-foot set shot by sophomore guard Paige Chaillier midway through the second stanza.

“We started nicely, then we started getting a little loose with the ball,” said Marquette coach Ben Smith. “In the second half, we took advantage of our size. I thought we did a pretty good job finishing shots and forced them into tough shots. We were very unselfish. We shared the ball well.”

The Eskymos were still within 19-17 following a pair of free throws by sophomore Nicole Kamin.

Marquette (6-2 overall, 3-0 GNC) then finished the second with a 10-2 run for a 29-19 halftime cushion.

Senior forward Avery Ledy started the third frame with a lay-in and free throw, giving Marquette a 32-19 advantage.

The Redettes continued to pull away, pushing their lead to 45-27 heading into the final eight minutes.

“They’re a very good team,” said Esky coach Mike Beveridge. “We haven’t met up with a team that can go inside and outside the way they do. We didn’t play very well. We didn’t match up with them.”

Senior forward Sydney Kivi drained 7-of-8 free throws and led Marquette with 21 points. Ledy added 15 points and 12 rebounds. Junior guard Aspen Michelin had nine points and six assists.

“When we work our inside-outside game, we’re very good,” said Marquette assistant coach Rich Ledy. “It was nice to establish an inside game early. When we do that it tends to put other teams back on their heels.

“Their kids played hard. They’re kind of young and are going to be there by the end of the year. Our size is going to do a lot of damage. I think we wore them down in the second half.”

Kamin, who sank all eight of her free throws, paced Esky (4-5 overall, 1-1 GNC) with 16 points. Senior guard Lexi Chaillier had nine.

Marquette hit 25-of-58 field goals and 11-of-13 free throws and committed 11 turnovers. The Eskymos had just seven miscues.

The Redettes finished with 21 assists, including four apiece by junior guard Reegan Ketzenberger and Ledy.

Esky also dropped the jayvee game (49-32) and freshman contest (39-31).

The Eskymos visit Kingsford Thursday. The Redettes travel to Calumet Friday.

Marquette 17 12 16 19 — 64

Escanaba 8 11 8 9 — 36

Marquette — Hunt 3, Michelin 9, Carter 8, Bartlett 2, Ledy 11, Kivi 21, Vanden Ende 2. FT: 11-13; F: 14; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Ledy 2, Hunt.

Escanaba — Monkevich 3, Kamin 16, P. Chaillier 3, L. Chaillier 9, Ray 4, Wallin 1. FT: 15-24; F: 12; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goal: Monkevich.