Experience shows as Seneca Lady Irish top Lady Cru

OTTAWA — A Seneca girls basketball squad that’s blessed with size, strength and speed was no doubt a prohibitive favorite over Marquette on Monday night, even though they were on the road at MA’s Bader Gymnasium. Though all three would factor into the outcome, there was a fourth that was an even bigger key to making it a successful trip for the visitors.

Experience.

The Lady Irish used those first three factors to race out to a 16-3 lead in the first 4 minutes, 36 seconds of the game, but Marquette didn’t back down. Instead, it settled down and went on a 16-6 run of its own that, on an Eva McCallum putback with 3:07 left in the second quarter, made it a one-possession game.

That’s where the experience kicked in. Seneca remained calm, cool and collected, scored the next 14 points of the contest and eventually came away with a 59-39 victory.

Brooklyn Giertz scored six of her 10 points in that rally, including a pair of free throws at 7:10 of the third period that set the gap at 36-19 Lady Irish. Sophomore Kennedy Hartwig led all scorers with 22 points for Seneca [8-0, 6-0 Tri-County], while 6-foot-1 center Madi Bromberek added 10 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.

The latter figure paced the visitors’ whopping 47-30 advantage on the glass for the night.

“The key tonight was that run we made at the end of the second quarter after they cut it to three,” said Seneca coach Ted O’Boyle. “We got out quick like we have in a lot of games this season, but give Marquette credit. They fought back, but we had another little run [11-3] at the end of the third quarter/early fourth that really helped us.

“I’m proud of our girls for the effort and for staying focused. It’s always a tough place to play over here, because Marquette is a well-coached team this year.”

Josie Eager led Marquette [3-3, 2-2 T-C] with 12 points and six rebounds, with Lilly Craig and Miah Ferracuti each adding eight points. MA, with starter Molly Snook away at a cheerleading competition, shot a cool 30% (15 of 50), including 20% (5 of 25) from the arc.

As usual, Seneca’s pressure defense took its toll on the Lady Cru early, forcing six turnovers that were compounded by the Lady Irish’s 9-of-14 shooting and 10-5 rebounding edge in the opening stanza. A steal and layup by Addie Olson with 3:24 showing created that 13-point lead before MA gathered itself.

Eager netted nine of her points and McCallum four of her six during the hosts’ rally that cut that deficit to 22-19 on the latter’s deuce.

However, the Irish would have none of that, and simply turned up the heat. A lobbed inbound bucket by Bromberek broke a five-minute dry spell and started the decisive burst led by Giertz and Hartwig.

“Seneca’s a very good team, and for the most part I was happy with the way we handled their press, because that’s how they’ve scored about 70% of their points this year, off turnovers,” said Marquette coach Eric Price. “That’s how Seneca plays. They play good team defense that makes you feel rushed all the time and forces turnovers, and they swing the ball really well and find the open shooters. Their experience showed when they kept cool when the game was tight. They’ve been there before, and they know how to win.

“We played hard. Even in the second half when they hit a couple of 3s and we couldn’t really buy a bucket, the girls kept fighting, and that’s all I can ask for.”