Marquette, MI – December 7th, 2021 – The Marquette Redettes hit the court tonight to take on the Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils.
1Q: The Blue Devils won the tip to open the ball game, but couldn’t score on their opening possession. The Redettes tried setting the tempo early, but the Blue Devils played excellent defense to keep Marquette out of the paint. The first points of the ball game came from two free throws from Sault Ste. Marie, quickly after, Marquette Center Meghan MacPhee tied the ball game. Defense continued to be the story for the Blue Devils, after several blocked shots, the Blue Devils
capitalized on a 3 pointer from Junior Mackenzie Bell, and an uncontested layup from Forward Claire Erickson. Marquette Guard Zoe Smith answered with a 3 pointer of her own to cut the deficit to 2. The pace started to slow down late in the quarter, after a few back and forth buckets, the Blue Devils
led 10-8 heading into the 2nd quarter.
2Q: Marquette quickly tied the ball game to start the quarter, but early foul trouble put the Blue Devils at the line, Sault Ste. Marie took back to the 2 point lead. Marquette gained momentum soon after, Guards Zoe Smith and Sienna Lingle gave the Redettes a 5 point lead midway through the quarter, but the momentum would quickly change. Sault Ste. Marie scored 7 unanswered points to take the 19-17 lead. Smith and MacPhee rallied the troops later in the quarter to take a 2 point lead, but the first half ended in a 22-22 tie. Marquette was finding ways to get through to the Blue Devils tough defensive play style.
3Q: The second half started very fast, the Blue Devils started to score from their defense as several fast break points were scored. The Redettes continued to try and keep pace, but the Blue Devils had their way in the beginning minutes of the quarter. Finally midway through the 3rd quarter, the Redettes found success in the paint, MacPhee and Smith continued to play well. Several turnovers and missed opportunities drained the clock as it came to a screeching end. The Blue Devils lead 33-29.
4Q: Sault Ste. Marie opened the quarter with a 3 point shot to take the 10 point. With how the Blue Devils were playing defense, Marquette would need some offensive juice to climb back into the ball game. With just under 6 minutes to play Marquette Forward Maria Millado would capitalize on an old fashion 3 point play to cut the deficit to 6. Moments later a Blue Devil would head to the line but miss both opportunities, Millado then returned to the line and made both shots, Marquette trailed by 4. Foul trouble sent the Blue Devils to the line late into the quarter, and they began to pull away. The Redettes were given several opportunities to climb back into the game, but it was the defense of the Blue Devils that eventually sealed the game. Marquette fell for the second time this year.
Final: Marquette 42 Sault Ste. Marie 48
The Redettes will continue their 2021-2022 campaign on Friday when the travel below the bridge to take on Traverse City Central. The ball will tip at 6:30 pm, you can listen to the game on 97.5 GTO.
