Ishpeming, MI – February 26th, 2015 – The Ishpeming Hematites girls basketball team took on the Negaunee Miners in Ishpeming tonight. Mike Plourde and Bob Nadeau brought you the action live on 98.3 WRUP!
The Hematites got out to a slow start, with Negaunee hitting a 3 to start the game. Lindsey Thompson had the first Hematites basket, and Negaunee jumped out to a 2-8 lead. Kaylie Engler scored on two straight possessions, followed by a Miners basket to make it 6-10. Ishpeming then scored 10 straights, with Jessica Spencer and Marissa Maino scoring field goals, followed by Maino and Morgan Skytta both hitting 3 pointers to make it 16-10. The Miners scored right before the end of the quarter, and the Hematites had a 16-12 lead.
First Quarter Score:
Ishpeming Hematites 16
Negaunee Miners 12
The Miners scored first in the second quarter, followed by Maino hitting two free throws for the Hematites. Thompson got the ball of a Hematites steal and scored to make it 20-14 with 6:22 left in the quarter. After a Miners basket, Khora Swanson had a 3-point play in the paint to make it a 7 point lead for the Hematites. After a Miners 3-point shot, Skytta hit her second 3 of the night on the next possession for Ishpeming. After a quick 5 point run for the Miners, Tammy Simula scored on a drive to the basket. A free throw from Spencer made it 29-24 going into halftime.
Halftime Score:
Ishpeming Hematites 29
Negaunee Miners 24
Thompson scored the first basket of the second half for the Hematites, with Engler scoring again to make it 33-28. Spencer had a 3-point play with 3:48 left in the quarter, and Skytta hit her 3rd 3 of the night to make it 39-32. After Maino scored a basket for the Hematites, the Miners went on a run to cut the Hematites lead to 1 point going into the final quarter.
Third Quarter Score:
Ishpeming Hematites 41
Negaunee Miners 40
Engler scored early in the fourth to give the Hematites a 3 point lead, and then the Miners hit a 3 to tie the game at 43. A free throw by Spencer un-tied the game, followed by Thompson putting back a missed shot with 4:30 left in the game to give the Hematites a 3 point lead. A Miners basket made it 46-45 with 4:23 left in the game. Neither team would score for over 3 minutes, when Spencer hit a free throw with 50 seconds left. Swanson hit 2 free throws with 10 seconds to clinch the game for the Hematites, who won 49-47.
Final Score:
Ishpeming Hematites 49
Negaunee Miners 47
The Ishpeming Hematite Girls finish the regular season 17-3, with a 11-1 conference record. They won the MPC conference title.
The Ishpeming Hematites will take on the Gwinn Modeltowners in the first round of the District tournament on March 4th, at 7:30pm on 98.3 WRUP and WRUP.com!
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