MERCER — Sedona Campbell was in a physical battle inside all afternoon.

It was also a mental one.

The Slippery Rock High senior center got off to a slow start and so did the Rockets in the District 10 5A girls basketball quarterfinals against Warren.

But Campbell found some space in the second half and scored 15 of her game-high 18 points in the final 16 minutes to send Slippery Rock to a 41-32 win over the Dragons Saturday at Mercer High School.

“I think part of it in the first half was nerves,” Campbell said. “Just knowing this was it if we lose.”

Slippery Rock trailed 14-13 at the half, but started the third quarter on a 7-0 run to snatch away the lead for good.

Warren closed to 28-26 with 18 seconds left in the third quarter, but Slippery Rock led by as many as 11 in the fourth and cruised to the finish line.

Campbell was a big reason why — but it didn’t come easily.

“They had her scouted well and they sat on her left shoulder,” said Slippery Rock coach Amber Osborn. “We knew (Warren forward Rachel Wilson) was a banger in there. I had her down as a bruiser on the scouting report. She doesn’t let anyone go into her territory without a hard time.”

Campbell was getting a hard time in the first half, but turned that around on Warren in the second half.

She started going to her right more and had more space to operate thanks to an adjustment made by the Rockets.

“Once we got more dribble penetration, that freed me up and created more space for me,” Campbell said.

Campbell was also left wide open when she ventured to the perimeter. Warren backed off a good 10 feet from her, but Campbell was disciplined enough to not fire up a 3-pointer.

“This is not the type of game I wanted to experiment,” Campbell said, smiling. “I’m like 1-for-4 this year and 1-for-4 career, it’s not exactly what you want.”

But Campbell said she could make those shots in the future.

“It’s just not a comfort thing for me,” Campbell said. “It’s more of a confidence thing than a skill thing.”

Slippery Rock also got a boost from senior point guard Jenna Whitmer, who hit two big 3-pointers in the first quarter and finished with 13.

Whitmer is still recovering from a torn ACL suffered last season and an ankle injury sustained days before this season began.

Against Warren, Whitmer looked like her old self.

“I definitely felt like that,” Whitmer said. “Just hitting those shots was a big turning point for me.”

Now the Rockets will get Hickory in the semifinals Wednesday at Slippery Rock University. The game is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m.

Slippery Rock beat the Hornets twice already this season.

“They’re never easy,” Osborn said. “I’ve always said ... their zone is very tough. They stick to what they’re good at. We’ll have our work cut out for us with Hickory.”

Slippery Rock is already guaranteed a spot in the PIAA playoffs regardless of what happens.

Still, the goal has always been a district title.

“One step farther,” Campbell said. “You want to be the district champion. Every inch you get close to the championship, you want it a little more.”

WARREN 32

Alanna Hultberg 4-5 0-0 10, Maddie Loutzenhiser 0-2 0-0 0, Rachel Wilson 4-5 1-2 9, Margo Loutzenhiser 3-10 0-0 6, Autumn Hultberg 2-7 0-0 5, Taylor Childress 1-3 0-0 2, Gracie Wood 0-2 0-0 0, Megan Wortman 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 14-34 1-2 32.

SLIPPERY ROCK 41

Jenna Whitmer 4-8 2-2 13, Bailey Boyd 0-3 0-0 0, Macy McCall 2-6 2-6 6, Steph Croll 1-5 2-2 4, Sedona Campbell 6-9 6-7 18, Elena McDermott 0-2 0-0 0. Totals: 13-33 12-17 41.

Warren 6 8 12 6 — 32

Slippery Rock8 5 15 13 — 41

3-point goals: Warren 3 (Alanna Hultberg 2, Autumn Hultberg); Slippery Rock 3 (Whitmer 3)

Wednesday: Slippery Rock vs. Hickory in District 10 5A semifinals at Slippery Rock University, 7:30 p.m.