“I feel like we learned to be stronger and more composed, because even when they’re coming at you so hard and so fierce, you want to bring it back. I feel like our team very much connected in that [regard],” Schneekloth said. “I felt like we grew as a team. This was definitely a team that we wanted to beat … It was really good to get that win.”

The night started competitively with the Tigers and Hilltoppers trading baskets before Marshall eventually found its rhythm and built a 19-point halftime lead. Duluth Marshall, however, made a late second-half push and brought pressure with its full-court press, but the Tigers were ultimately able to hang onto their early lead to prevail for the win.

Duluth Marshall came out aggressive to open the second half on a 6-0 run to cut the deficit to 42-29 after grabbing a string of loose balls, but the Tigers found a quick answer with a pair of Avery Fahl 3-pointers and a Danielle Nubile post-up down low to take back a 54-34 lead.

The Hilltoppers continued to fight, and eventually brought the game back within 13 points, down 59-46 with 6:25 to go behind its full-court press that troubled Marshall’s offense.

Marshall's Danielle Nubile goes up for a shot in the paint in the first half against Duluth Marshall.

“We definitely talk through it in the locker room, to stay composed, keep pushing, don’t lay back, don’t sleep on defense and just keep going at it,” Schneekloth said regarding how the team was managing the Hilltoppers’ late pressure. “The whole point [of Duluth’s gameplan] was to speed us up. So, we just wanted to slow down. We talked about that as a team, and I feel like we executed pretty well.”

Taleigha Bigler hit a big 3-pointer from the top of the key that gave Marshall a spark back, and followed that up with a steal off a Hilltoppers’ inbound moments later that led to an open Reese Drake layup to give the Tigers a 64-46 lead with about 4:30 left.

Yet, Duluth Marshall wasn’t done fighting and made it a 10-point game with 3:30 to go, 64-54, after hitting a pair of free throws.

Schneekloth, who became a dominant force on the rebounding and attacking end in crucial moments late in the game, returned the favor with a free throw after drawing a foul driving to the lane. She also led the team with three steals and two blocks.

“We’re always told to fight as a team, so I was kind of fighting for my team, because there’s always someone to kick it out to and an extra pass you can make,” Schneekloth said about her mindset in the second half. “So, I just went with that team [mentality]. Just that everyone has trust in each other, and everyone knows that. Everyone goes to the board, and we all wanted to do that.”

Marshall's Sydney Towne looks to make a pass in the first half against Duluth Marshall.

With both teams in the bonus, Marshall made a few more trips to the charity stripe as Duluth Marshall began to foul along with a late 3 from Fahl to save the victory.

Fahl added another 16 points behind four 3-pointers to her six rebounds, while Drake followed with 13 points and a team-high four assists to her seven rebounds.

Although a competitive start that began with an 8-8 tie, the Tigers caught fire midway through the half to put control in their hands.

Drake started the scoring with a steal and fastbreak layup, as her and Fahl hit back-to-back 3-pointers minutes later to give Marshall a 14-10 edge.

Bigler was heavily guarded when bringing the ball up the court the entire night, and was often able to shake her defender off with her ball handling or a long pass. Bigler finished with 7 points and two steals.

A steal from Sydney Towne led to another Drake fastbreak, to which the Hilltoppers’ responded with a 3 to keep the early game within a possession, 18-16.

Two consecutive baskets from Drake and Nubile sparked Marshall’s momentum shift, as Maddie Panka added in another. Panka finished the night with 9 points on 4 of 5 shooting.

Schneekloth scored back-to-back buckets herself along with the and-1 free throw for a Tigers’ 30-19 advantage.

Both teams were playing an occasional full-court press, and Marshall switched into a zone defense frequently throughout the night as well.

Nubile and Schneekloth were strong down low throughout the night, cleaning up the offensive boards.

“We actually got very lucky with our height this year, and that helps us,” Schneekloth said, who stands at 6-foot and Nubile at 6-foot-1. “Our coaches say it all the time, that we have an advantage, so we all just try to use it to our advantage, and it usually works out.”

Schneekloth and Drake each led Marshall with 11 points at the half.

Drake and Duluth Marshall senior Cairin Berger collided with one another with 25 seconds left in the first half after diving for a loose ball. Drake was holding her right forearm after the incident, and Berger was in considerable pain with injury to the lower back or hip area. Drake returned to play in the second half, while Berger was assisted off after being down several minutes. She eventually walked gingerly at the end of the game with assistance from her teammates.

Marshall overall shot 44% from the field and held the Hilltoppers to a 35% mark.

“We are definitely going to take this game into example about how [important] defensive pressure is. They [Duluth Marshall] would always send an extra player towards us, so handling the pressure with two people on you, it’s kind of tricky,” Schneekloth said. “Us as a team, try to cut towards the ball and try to get open and don’t leave our teammates out to dry. We worked on that during practice, and I feel like it worked to our advantage.”

Marshall (7-2) will compete in today’s second and final day of the holiday tournament. The Tigers will take on Jackson County Central (3-8) at 7 p.m. back in Southwest Minnesota State University’s R/A Facility.