Marietta, OH - In the season opener for the Redhawks the women's basketball team traveled to Marietta College to take on the Pioneers. Unfortunately, the team was not able to walk away victorious. 

First Quarter 

To start for the Redhawks were Makayla Abram (Steubenville, OH ), Danajah Sanders (Cleveland, OH), Machia Hairston (Pittsburgh, PA), Ayanna Mazyck (Philadelphia, PA), and Shaundrea Butler (Cleveland, OH). 

Starting for the Pioneers were Makenzie Wilson (Wapakonrta, OH), Erin Hahn (Louisville,OH),  Olivia Gribble (Irwin, PA), Hannah Schill (Rootstown, OH), and Ally Grake (Morrow, OH). 

Makayla Abram was the first to get on the board with a quick two-point jump shot, assisted by Machia Hairston. 

Hairston was quick to add a quick lay up of her own, with an assist from Butler. This gave LRU a quick four point lead (8:10). 

The Pioneers' Hannah Schill was the first to score a bucket; a two-point jump shot. MC tied the game up with two made, foul shots from Schill (6:47). 

Drake also got on the stats sheet with a layup of her own, assisted by Wilson. (6-6) 

The contest stays at a steady tie of 6-6 for almost a minute before the scoring drought is ended by Marietta's Ally Grake with a quick jumpshot (5:00). 

Hairston gets on the board again with two made free throws after a foul from Camille Cummins, tying up the score once again (8-8). 

This trend of tying the game continues on with both teams tying at 10-10, and 12-12 until the Redhawks break away. 

The first thing that happened was a made free throw for Sanders after she was fouled by Grake on her way up. Mazyck comes back with a made layup shortly after, assisted by Abram. Mazyck then travels down the court for a second time for another lay up assisted by Alexis Robinson), increasing distance between the two teams. 

The end of the period score is 17-12, in favor of the Redhawks. 

Second Quarter

Schill was the first to get a bucket during the second quarter, and to also end the scoring drought for the Pioneers. 

Mayck wasn't willing to let this play go unanswered and she added a two-point jump shot, assisted by Sanders to the Redhawks score (19-15).

Wilson and Grake both added two points each to the board, and Sanders for LRU hit a three point shot. The score was now 22-19 in favor of La Roche with 6:24 remaining in the quarter. 

This would stay the score for two minutes and three seconds before Shaundrea Butler the rebound then quickly followed by a breakaway layup. This play had Marietta calling their first timeout of the night (4:21). 

The timeout had the desired effect on MC and out of it Jill Congrove for the Pioneers hits a three point shot3. This made the gap only two points between Marietta and La Roche (24-22). 

With 1:45 remaining in the game Diamond Jay (DJ) Whitting contributed a layup to the Redhawks' score, giving them a small ounce of breathing room (26-22). LRU calls a 30 second timeout shortly after this play, their first of the game. 

For a minute it looked like 26-22 was the score that half was going to end with, but with 00:03 seconds left on the clock Hannah Schil made a jump shot, once again bringing the Pioneers within one basket. 

26-24 was the score going into the second half of the contest. 

Third Quarter

Marietta was the first to score, Hahn with a two point jumper, and then her teammate Wilson hit a jump shot of her own, tying the game at 28-28. 

The Redhawks weren't willing to let that go unanswered and Sanders followed with a three point bucket of her own (31-30).

Hahn for Marietta, and Butler for La Roche both two points each to the board (33-32, LRU). 

Congrove of MC and her second made basket of the night, hits a three point jumper tying up the game at 35-35 (4:12).

The Redhawks and the Pioneers tie it up once more at 37-37 with both Butler (LRU), and Congrove (MC) adding points to the board. 

At 1:37 Marietta takes the lead with two made free throws from Schill, but that lead doesn't last long as Hairston earns herself a made layup. 

Gribble (MC) decided to take a larger lead by hitting a three point shot, assisted by Schill. 

Hairston added another layup (assisted by Butler) for the Redhawks, however they were still down by two going into the fourth and final quarter (43-41, MC). 

Fourth Quarter

Neither team scores until a minute into the period, It's Makenzie Wilson (Marietta) that puts a free throw on  the board to start the final quarter. This was followed by a made jumpshot for Schill (assisted by Grake). This brought the score to 46-43 in favor of the Pioneers (8:47). 

There wasn't another bucket on the court until 6:57 when Kate Liston added a made three point bucket for MC (49-43, Marietta). 

Kelly Levering for the Pioneers added another two points with a made layup assisted by Cummins (51-43). 

Liston added another made layup to the score, bringing the score to 53-43, and causing LRU to call a timeout (4:46). 

Out of the timeout Abram hit a two point jump shot for the Redhawks, assisted by Sanders, bringing the score to 55-45, in favor of Marietta. 

For La Roche Mazyck hit a two point jump shot, and Alexis Robinson added one made free throw. This brought the score to 56-48; lead in favor of Marietta. 

LRU took one last 30 second timeout (2:27). Out of the timeout, Mazyck had another made jump shot (56-50, MC). 

Final points for the Redhawks were scored by Abram with two made free throws and a made layup (assisted by Sanders). 

For the Pioneers Gribble added two free throws, Schill added one free throw, Wilson added two free throws, and Wilson also added a two point made jump shot. 

The final score of the game is 63-54, in favor of Marietta. 

Final Thoughts

For Marietta their leading scorer was Hannah Schill with 14 points and seven rebounds. Mackenzie Wilson and Jill Congrove tied for second overall scorers of the game with 11 points each. Wilson also contributed seven rebounds. Kelly Levering however, led the Pioneers in rebounding with a total of nine for the game

The leading scorer for La Roche was Ayanna Mazyck with 14 points, and four rebounds. Shaundrea Butler and Machia Hairston tied, both having ten points each. Mazyck also contributed five rebounds for the team. 

Makayla Abrams led the team in rebounds with six, and also added eight points of her own to the final score. Danajah Sanders was closely behind her with five rebounds and seven points, and DJ Whitting added four points and three rebounds to the Redhawks final score of 54. 

For Marietta their leading scorer was Hannah Schill with 14 points and seven rebounds. Mackenzie Wilson and Jill Congrove tied for second overall scorers of the game with 11 points each. Wilson also contributed seven rebounds. Kelly Levering however, led the Pioneers in rebounding with a total of nine for the game. 

The Redhawks play again, this Friday, November 12, 2021 at the Kerr Fitness Center on the La Roche University campus. The game takes place at 7:00 PM against Geneva College.