The last game at Target Center on this Tuesday night was the second Class AAA quarterfinal game featuring fourth-seeded Marshall going up against Holy Angels. The Tigers have been in this setting many times before and, just like Hutchinson in the first game, was definitely favored as a seeded team. The Stars were another unknown team to me although I'm definitely well-acquainted with one of their assistant coaches, Gary Rufsvold from his days at St. Kate's.
Holy Angels would build a 4-1 lead early in this contest on the strength of a jumper in the lane by sophomore forward Megan Meyer at the 13:47 mark but a barrage of three-point bombs by the Tigers in the span of a minute got Marshall with their nose out in front. Two by senior forward Marah Mulso from the right wing area at the 13:29 and 13:02 marks and one by fellow senior forward Emily Buysse from the left corner at the 12:31 mark had the Tigers out 10-4 and Holy Angels could have been rattled right then and there. The Stars, however, maintained their composure and battled right back; trimming the deficit to a single point at 10-9 by the 11:07 mark and a "3" from the top of the key by junior guard Megan Thompson at the 10:36 mark knotted the issue at 12 a piece. That bomb was the beginning of a 9-0 Star push that had Holy Angels out in front 18-12 with 8:59 left and a lay-up by sophomore reserve guard Riley Thalhuber with 7:34 left had the Stars up by a touchdown at 21-14. The lead would grow to as much as eleven points at 29-18 when Thalhuber connected with a short jumper off the glass and a "3" from the right top area by Meyer with 3:35 left bulged the advantage to twelve points at 32-20. Marshall would make a bit of an inroad on the deficit when Buysse drilled a "3" from the right wing area with :58 left and 8th grade reserve post Nyamer Diew dropped two freebies with :08.8 left that at least got the Tigers back to within single digits trailing 35-27 at the half but Marshall was still looking at an uphill battle going into the second half.
Marshall Head Coach Dan Westby's worst fears came true at the beginning of the second half when the Stars got a quick 4-0 burst to up their lead to 39-27 and even a thirty-second timeout would not alter the Tigers ultimate doom in this game as missed shots and defensive lapses would do in the two-time Class AAA title game participants. One of the big reasons was the emergence of Holy Angel senior forward Laura Bagwell-Katalinich who simply carved up the Tigers in the second half. With the Stars holding 45-37 advantage, Bagwell-Katalinich was fouled down low at the 9:56 mark that got Holy Angels a 47-37 lead and a jumper by Bagwell-Katalinich at the 9:27 mark maintained the ten-point edge at 49-39. At the 9:12 mark Bagwell-Katalinich struck again with a steal and lay-up the other way that upped the margin to twelve points at 51-39 and the Stars were on their way. Bagwell-Katalinich would connect with a short jumper with 8:41 left and free throws by freshman forward Destinee Oberg with 7:41 and 7:01 left got the lead to 55-41. With 6:15 left Bagwell Katalinich snared an offensive rebound for a putback that made it 57-41 and Marshall never could sustain any meaningful run that may have put them back to within striking distance as Holy Angels cruised to a 69-47 victory.
A review of the box score on this night reveals what a monster night that Bagwell-Katalinich had in leading her Holy Angels team to victory. A double-double; 34 points along with 13 rebounds helped pave the way for the Stars into the semifinals on Thursday. Meyer was the only other player for Holy Angels in double figures with her 14 points. A disappointing finish for Marshall which has seemingly been accustomed to finding itself entrenched on the Big Stage on Saturday night but cold shooting and getting outrebounded did in the Tigers on this night. Mulso led Marshall on this night with her 14 points while senior forward Lexi Saugstad finished up her high school career with ten points in the losing effort.
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