Mustangs earn stretch-run road win at Lutheran Northwest
February 10, 2023
ROCHESTER HILLS, MI – Marian (5-13) broke an eight-game losing streak with a 48-43 win on the road at Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest (9-8) Friday Night.
It was a festive non-conference atmosphere at Northwest with boys and girl's games occurring simultaneously in both the North and South gyms at LHNW's unique facility.
The Mustangs jumped out to an early, breaking the Crusader's full court press as six of Molly McLeod's team-leading 16 points came after quarter number one.
Abby Landa also got into the first quarter act, scoring four of her five points in the first as Marian outscored LHNW, 17-9.
The second stanza was much of the same as Marian continued to evade the Crusader's pressure and shot 4-of-13 from the field. Charlie Bingham added five points along with six from McLeod and a bucket from Mckenzie Swanson.
Marian led LHNW 28-19 at the intermission, but head coach Michelle Lindsey knew a hungry LHNW would attempt to make a run in the second half.
"We've been coming out slow after halftime," Lindsey said. "We've got to figure that out, but I'm impressed that once we were under more pressure, we maintained our composure."
Indeed, the Crusaders made a run to start the third period behind a balance attach led by Stella Macavage (11 total points), Emily Grulke (11) and ten points from Paiga Macavage off the bench.
At the 6:06 mark of the third, LHNW drew to within three of Marian and trailed only 28-25. The lead was cut to one at 3:58 and Marian led 31-30.
LHNW took their first lead of the ballgame, 36-35, just 34 seconds into the fourth quarter behind a Grulke field goal.
LHNW led by as much as four with 6:48 remaining, but Marian chipped away as McLeod hit a shot to tie the game at 42-42 with 4:30 left.
The Mustangs took the lead, 44-43, after a Charlie Bingham free throw at the 1:48 mark. In fact, Bingham was clutch down the stretch for Marian shooting 4-4 from the line in the final quarter and going 7-8 in the contest.
Clinging to a slim one-point advantage, Abby Landa made a huge deflection in the lane, leading to a pair of good Bingham free throws.
The Crusaders managed a potential game-tying three-point attempt with 3.8 seconds left that fell short. Bingham collected the rebound and hit both as the Mustangs held on for the five-point win.
Bingham added 13 points and a pair of rebounds on the night while the recent Butler commit, Mckenzie Swanson, recorded a double-double scoring 12 and grabbed 15 rebounds off the bench.
Marian will be right back at it on Monday as all three teams travel to backyard rival, Bloomfield Hills.
The freshman game will begin at 4:00 p.m. with JV at approximately 5:30 p.m. and the varsity contest with the Black Hawks at 7 p.m.
