SLIPPERY ROCK — Erin Danik and Lexus Lambert sent three shots from the Slippery Rock girls basketball team screaming into the wall behind the basket during the first quarter of the Slippery Rock Christmas Tournament championship game Saturday.

The Raiders wanted to use their size advantage to set the tone.

“I think that intimidates them because they don't want to drive to the basket as much because they know they are going to get blocked,” said Lambert, who is 5-foot-11. “They had to find other ways to shoot farther out.”

While Slippery Rock did find good looks on the outside, Seneca Valley's size was a big factor in a 52-39 win.

The Raiders having balance with their bigs helped.

When Slippery Rock's Stephanie Croll and Jenna Whitmer buried 3-pointers against the box-and-one, Raiders coach Rob Lombardo switched to a 3-2 zone.

With Lambert outside, and a 6-1 Danik and 6-2 Melissa Carter inside, the Rockets couldn't move the ball inside the arc.

Carter finished with seven points and four rebounds for the Raiders.

“It definitely helps a lot because we can rotate and we know that we have each other's backs,” said Danik, who finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds and was named tournament MVP. “We can drop back and help each other out.”

Croll, who made 5 3-pointers and finished with a team-high 15 points, gave the Rockets (4-3) their only lead.

She made a 3-pointer early in the first quarter to put Slippery Rock up 3-2.

The Raiders responded with an 11-0 run that put them ahead for good, capped by a Danik layup with 50 seconds left in the first quarter.

Seneca Valley's box-and-one was aimed at stopping Rockets' leading scorer Marissa Siebka.

Siebka finished with nine points, but only two field goals.

“We came out in a box-and-one and contain No. 11,” Lombardo said. “She was our focal point on the whole defensive scheme tonight. We knew we could out-rebound them with our size.”

Slippery Rock didn't fold, making seven 3-pointers to stay close.

The Rockets, who trailed 26-25 at halftime, cut the lead to 35-33 on a Siebka layup midway through the third.

Lambert, who finished with eight points and four rebounds, helped give the Raiders breathing room. She scored the next six points on two layups and a steal that set up a breakaway she was fouled on.

“I was having trouble getting to the basket and getting fouled or even finishing,” Lambert said. “I was trying to attack a little harder. I was just trying to get some points on the board to get a lead.”

When Seneca Valley switched to the 3-2 in the fourth quarter, the Raiders outscored Slippery Rock 11-3 to close out the win.

Meghan Hess, who was chosen for the all-tournament team, finished with eight points for Seneca Valley. Whitmer had 12 points and four assists for the Rockets.

Slippery Rock coach John Tabisz believes his non-region schedule has given his team good experience.

“We saw some gimmick defenses and saw some things we haven't seen a lot this year,” Tabisz said. “When you have a young team like that, it's worth a million dollars. What I'm proud of is they didn't quit.”

Beaver Falls 48, Moniteau 38 — Ice-cold shooting in the second half doomed the Warriors (4-4) in a third-place loss to the Tigers (4-6).

Moniteau shot 19 percent (4-of-21) after building a 26-22 lead at the half.

Kristina DeMatties led the Warriors with 12 points, while Sara Hull added 10.

SENECA VALLEY 52

Christina Dunning 2 0-0 5, Meghan Hess 2 2-3 7, Sarah Jones 3 0-0 6, Lexus Lambert 3 2-3 8, Erin Danik 8 0-0 17, Carolyn Palaski 0 0-0 0, Brooke Lyczek 0 2-2 2, Shaley Bream 0 0-0 0, Michaela Lamont 0 0-0 0, Melissa Carter 3 1-2 7. Totals: 21 7-10 52.

SLIPPERY ROCK 39

Marissa Siebka 2 5-6 9, Bailey Boyd 0 0-0 0, Macy McCall 0 0-0 0, Stephanie Croll 5 0-0 15, Jenna Whitmer 5 0-1 12, Hannah Willison 0 3-4 3, Elena McDermott 0 0-0 0. Totals: 12 8-11 39.

Seneca Valley 18 7 15 11 — 52

Slippery Rock5 20 11 3 — 39

3-point goals: Seneca Valley 3 (Dunning, Hess, Danik); Slippery Rock 7 (Croll 5, Whitmer 2)

Friday: Slippery Rock at Knoch

Saturday: Bethel Park at Seneca Valley

MONITEAU 38

Kennedy DeMatteis 0 1-2 1, Kara Mental 0 0-0 0, Kristina DeMatteis 6 0-1 12, Alazia Greaves 1 0-0 3, Stephanie McCall 2 4-5 8, Sara Hull 4 2-5 10, Cortney Claypoole 0 2-2 2, Emma Bair 1 0-0 2. Totals: 14 8-15 38.

BEAVER FALLS 48

Asia Cottrell 2 0-0 5, TreAuna Slappy 3 4-4 10, Kashius Harris 4 3-7 11, Island Bradley 5 3-5 13, Arianna Harper 3 1-2 7, Julie River 1 0-0 2, Sidney Farmer 0 0-0 1. Totals: 18 11-18 48.

Moniteau 12 14 5 7 — 38

Beaver Falls9 13 14 12 — 48

3-point goals: Moniteau 1 (Greaves); Beaver Falls 1 (Cottrell)

Friday: Redbank Valley at Moniteau