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The Lady Raiders took a huge step toward a division title Thursday night in a convincing 52-47 win over Sandusky, the defending champs. Marlette, now 7-1 in the East and 10-4 overall, can reach the next plateau on Tuesday, February 2, at Ubly. The Lady Bearcats are 6-1 and 10-2. Meanwhile, the Lady Redskins, who have won or shared the East crown the last four years, have slipped to 5-3 in the division and 12-3 on the season.

Marlette swept the two-game series with Sandusky, but unlike the first contest, a low scoring affair that was decided in overtime (33-32), Thursday's contest started as a shoot-out.

The Lady Raiders held a 17-15 lead after the first quarter. Everything for the next 22 minutes, though, was as Marlette planned it. Their size, defense, patience, and the scoring of Jenna Lange took over. The lead went to 29-21 at halftime and to 39-30 after three quarters. It bulged to double figures through most of the fourth quarter until the Lady Redskins made a late spurt to finish within five.

"We're putting things together," said Mroczek, the veteran Lady Raider coach, who has his team playing terrific in the half-court. "We're really putting it together on offense. We're setting screens well. Kendra Smith (6'2" senior center) has been setting great screens for Kelsey (Hall) and Jenna. We've been patient on offense and looking for the open girl."

The combination of Lange (6'1", G/F) and Hall (6'2", C), both four-year varsity players, was a deadly force this week. Lange notched a game-high 21 points against Sandusky while Hall dropped in 27 points the 40-28 win over Brown City last Tuesday.

"After the first couple of shots (Thursday night), I could tell Jenna was feeling it," remarked Mroczek. "Jenna had a real good scoring night. Kelsey only had eight points, but she had eight assists. She was being double and triple teamed, but she was finding the open girl."

It didn't hurt that the Lady Raiders sank 20 of 30 shots from the floor.

"They put it all together. They executed well and shot well," said Al DeMott, Sandusky coach.

DeMott also said his team battled, but Marlette deserves all the credit. "We couldn't stop them. They got ahead and controlled the ball. It's hard to get the ball back from them. They've got all that size and they move the ball well."

Lange's performance was supported with nine points from Amara Wilson, eight from Hall and seven each from Smith and Catherine Distelrath. Hall and Lange also combined for 13 rebounds and four blocks.

Sandusky was paced by center Cassy VanConant with 17 points. Junior forward Maddie Hale chipped in with 10 points and eight boards. The ‘Skins' leading scorer, Marissa DeMott, had eight points, the second time in a row the Lady Raiders held her to single figures.

On the other side of the ball, the Raiders, for the second time this season, held Sandusky's explosive offense in check.

Mroczek commented, "I think our length on defense had an effect on them, and Sandusky moves the ball as well as anybody against us."

DeMott added, "Their size caused us some problems. We shot only 38%. But, we moved the ball well, a lot better than last time."

Marlette 47 Bad Axe 30

The Lady Raiders raised their record to 14-11 this past Monday night with a GTC crossover win over the Hatchets. They led 17-4 after one quarter.

Hall and Lange netted 14 and 11 points to spark the offense. Smith added six points and 10 rebounds.

Marlette 40 Brown City 28

Hall's 27 points against the Green Devils put her over the 1,000 point mark in her career at Marlette. She is only the second player in Lady Raiders' history to go over the 1,000 mark. Nicole Ruggles is the school's all-time leading scorer.

The Raiders took full use of their size advantage over BC by pouring the ball into Hall, who also had 11 rebounds and two blocks. Lange, who scored 11 points, and Smith combined for 13 rebounds and nine assists.

Another factor for Marlette was the defense of Distelrath, who held BC's Kristen Greene to just five points.

Michelle Burgess led the Lady Devils with seven.

Sandusky 60 Mayville 33

The Lady ‘'Skins outscored the Wildcats 49-22 through the first three quarters last Tuesday.

VanConant led all scorers with 19 points. DeMott finished with 14 points, seven rebounds, six assists and six steals. Monica Chambers helped out with 10 points.