While Keira Maki finished with 39 points, shooting woes plagued the rest of Escanaba girls’ basketball in a 49-46 loss to No. 4 Houghton on Thursday.

The Eskymos (7-7)  shot 37% from the floor and 2-of-16 from 3-point range to snap their four-game winning streak.

“I feel like we didn’t shoot very well as a team,” Esky coach Tracy Hudson said. “Keria Maki had a great individual performance. But to beat good teams you have to have more balance, and we usually have more balance.”

Maki finished 15-of-28 from the floor. All other Esky players finished 3-of-23 from the floor and 0-for-9 from 3-point range.

Yet, the Eskymos lost by one possession and had opportunities to win late.

Esky trailed 37-33 entering the fourth quarter. Keira Maki needed 36 seconds to tie the game at 37 behind a pair of layups with the second one coming off a steal.

The Gremlins clapped back with layups from Danica Ryynanan and Ava Gerard to go with a free throw from Clea Ollanketo for a 42-37 lead. Maki connected in the paint with 4:53 to go get the Eskymos within three points at 42-39.

Houghton ballooned its lead to 47-39 with 2:31 to go behind a triple and a jumper from Ryynanen

After exactly one minute of game time, Maki earned a layup, junior Clara Braun dropped a dime to junior Katey Lamb for an easy two points and Maki turned a steal into a successful 3-point play.

In 60 seconds, the Eskymos exploded with a 7-0 run to pull within one point.

On the ensuing defensive possession, Braun earned a steal. As she began to motor up the floor she found an open Morgan Maki. The pass bobbled in her hands, landing in the hands of a nearby Gremlin.

From there, it was one of two options for the Eskymos: get a steal or commit a foul. The Eskymos committed their fifth team foul with 15.9 to go, sending Ryynanen to the line. She drained both of her gifters for a 49-46 lead.

Keira Maki’s 3-point shot on the ensuing possession didn’t connect. The Gremlins went back to the line after recovering the loose ball and drawing a foul.

Sophomore Jacey Sleeman missed both free throws. Keira Maki recovered the loose ball and tripped to half court. She heaved a half-court shot, but couldn’t connect as the buzzer sounded.

“I felt like we had our opportunities,” Hudson said. “I think (Thursday’) was an opportunity for us to win the game and to beat a top five team. We’re a lot closer now than we were in the beginning (of the season).”

Houghton coach Julie Filpus credited the win to her team’s ability to adjust to the Eskymos’ variety of defenses.

“They’re more non-traditional, and they’re good at it,” Filpus said. “It was just important for our players to see that they could make these adjustments to what we’re trying to do, depending on what defense Escanaba was playing.

“We gave up a pretty comfortable lead, but we still hung on. I really liked that.”

The Eskymos trailed the Gremlins (11-4) led 14-10 after the first quarter, where Keria Maki scored all 10 of Esky’s points. The Gremlins carried a 25-22 lead into intermission. Keira Maki totaled 18 points, and junior Katey Lamb earned a layup at the 5:36 mark to pull within three points and connected in the paint with 1:10 to go in the stanza to shave the deficit to 24-20.

Junior Grayson Lamarche, who earned her third foul of the contest with 1:44 to go in the second quarter, immediately drove to the basket to start the third quarter, drawing a foul in the process. She split the free throws. After dropping 28 points against Calumet six days prior and 10 points against Marquette 24 hours before Thursday’s contest, the free throw was her only point against the Gremlins.

Keira Maki then went on a 10-5 run of her own to give the Eskymos a 33-30 lead with 4:36 to go.

“Hats off to Maki,” Filpus said. “She had a heck of a game.”

Houghton clapped back with a 7-0 run with four points from Gerard and a 3-pointer from senior Danica Ryynanen to lead 37-33 entering the fourth quarter.

While Hudson was incredibly proud of Keria Maki’s individual performance, he understands that the surrounding players were out of sync on Thursday.

“A lot of our other girls didn’t have their normal game, and it wasn’t because of anybody being selfish,” Hudson said. “Sometimes we felt a step slow out there. I thought we had a little bit more energy the other night (against Marquette). I felt like we pushed the right buttons. I felt like we went with the right crew.”

On top of her 39 points, Keria Maki earned nine rebounds, seven steals and three blocks. Lamarche finished with six boards, five blocks, two steals and an assist.

“I feel like we’re there,” Hudson said of the Eskymos. “I feel like we’re really close.”

Gerard earned a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

The Gremlins trip to face Marquette at 6:30 p.m. Monday. The Eskymos host Gwinn at 7 p.m. Monday.

Box score

Escanaba 10 12 11 13 – 46

Houghton 14 11 12 12 – 49

Escanaba: K. Maki 39, Lamb 6, Lamarche 1; FT: 6-10; Fouls: 19; Fouled Out: M. Maki; 3-pointers: K. Maki 2

Houghton: Ryynanen 14, Gerard 12, Ollanketo 6, Sleeman 6, Trevino-Peterlin4, Hebert 4, Hainault 2, Zawada 1; Fouls: 10, Fouled Out: none; 3-pointers: Ryynanen 2, Sleeman 2, Ollanketo 1