Reegan Ketzenberger of Marquette, center, tries to break out after getting surrounded by Escanaba players on Tuesday in Escanaba. (Escanaba Daily Press photo by Dennis Grall)

ESCANABA — Matching up with Marquette proved difficult for the Escanaba girls Tuesday night as they dropped a 64-36 basketball decision to the Upper Peninsula’s No. 3 team in Divisions 1-3.

Marquette, with an overall height advantage, worked the ball inside early and often in this Great Northern Conference contest.

The Redettes gained a 17-5 advantage on junior Sofia Vanden Ende’s shot from the lane late in the first quarter.

Esky responded with 10 unanswered points, climbing within 17-15 on a seven-foot set shot by sophomore guard Paige Chaillier midway through the second stanza.

“We started nicely, then we started getting a little loose with the ball,” Marquette head coach Ben Smith said. “In the second half, we took advantage of our size. I thought we did a pretty good job finishing shots and forced them into tough shots. We were very unselfish. We shared the ball well.”

The Eskymos were still within 19-17 following a pair of free throws by sophomore Nicole Kamin.

Marquette (6-2, 3-0 GNC) then finished the second quarter with a 10-2 run for a 29-19 halftime cushion.

The Redettes continued to pull away in the second half, pushing their lead to 45-27 heading to the fourth quarter.

Senior forward Sydney Kivi drained 7 of 8 free throws and led Marquette with 21 points. Ledy added 15 points and 12 rebounds. Junior guard Aspen Michelin had nine points and six assists.

“When we work our inside-outside game, we’re very good,” Marquette assistant coach Rich Ledy said. “It was nice to establish an inside game early.”

Kamin paced Esky (4-5 overall, 1-1 GNC) with 16 points. Senior guard Lexi Chaillier had nine.

Marquette hit 25 of 58 field goals and 11 of 13 free throws and committed 11 turnovers. The Eskymos had just seven miscues.

The Redettes finished with 21 assists, including four apiece by junior guard Reegan Ketzenberger and Ledy.

MSHS, which won the JV game 49-32, travels to Calumet on Friday.