Northville girls hang with Mercy for three quarters before Marlins’ swarming ‘D’ fuels victory
Farmington Hills Mercy and Northville players elevate for a rebound Friday night.
The pre-game hype leading up to Friday night’s girls basketball battle of unbeatens – 4-0 Farmington Hills Mercy and 3-0 Northville – was validated through the third quarter, which ended with the visiting Marlins clinging to a 30-29 lead.
However a five-minute-plus stretch of merciless fourth-quarter defense by the Marlins fueled a 50-38 victory for Mercy.
The Mustangs’ first fourth-quarter points came on a pair of Eve Tanaskoska free throws with 2:23 left, but by that point the Marlins had already iced their fifth consecutive win.
Sophomores leading the charge
Sophomore Aizlyn Albanese was a one-girl wrecking crew for the winners, tallying 33 points. She connected on four of seven three-point attempts and nine of 10 free throws while sharing team-high rebound honors (six) with Maya White.
White also contributed 10 points for Mercy.
Senior guard Sydney Brown was an offensive force for the Mustangs, pouring in a team-high 17 points – 15 the result of five three-pointers.
Tanaskoska was effective at both ends of the court, scoring 11 points to go with eight steals and eight rebounds.
Miranda Link scored five points for Northville, which swished seven of 12 free throws.
The game was deadlocked at 10-10 after the opening eight minutes before Northville owned an 18-16 lead at the half.
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