BUTLER TWP — Mackenzie Craig considers basketball at Butler County Community College her secondary sport.

She's not playing like it.

The Karns City graduate came to BC3 this academic year to study criminology and play volleyball.

“But I do love basketball,” she said. “So I figured, as long as I'm here, I might as well play.”

The 5-foot-9 freshman forward joined the Pioneers knowing she was being counted on to fill much of the void left by graduated NJCAA All-American Julia Baxter.

All Baxter did last season was average 26.3 points and 17.6 rebounds per game while becoming the first 1,000-point scorer and All-American in BC3 women's basketball history.

“No pressure there,” Craig said, smiling.

If she is feeling any pressure, Craig is showing she knows how to respond to it.

Through the Pioneers' first six games, she averaged 34 points, 24 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.0 steals per game. Craig's college debut resulted in 41 points, 17 rebounds, eight steals and six assists.

“I knew she'd be good. I didn't think she'd be this good,” BC3 coach Dick Hartung said.

In the Pioneers' most recent game — an 80-47 loss to Penn State Dubois — Craig was 'held' to a season-low 22 points, but grabbed 27 rebounds.

She also sank 14 of 15 free throws, improving her accuracy at the line to 81 percent.

“Baxter struggled at the line, which held down her scoring at times,” Hartung said. “Craig puts an odd rotation on the ball, but it finds the net.”

Craig averaged 14 points and eight rebounds for Karns City last season while becoming part of four District 9 championship seasons with the Gremlins. She joined current Slippery Rock University sophomore LeeAnn Gibson in accomplishing that feat at KC.

“Baxter was more athletic, but Craig is very fundamentally sound,” Hartung said. “You can tell she's been coached. She came here knowing a lot of things about the game and she brought a strong game with her.

“They didn't just roll the balls out there and let them play (at Karns City). She's been coached.”

Craig said she expected to contribute to the team, but not at the level she has so far.

“I'm totally surprised by what's happening here,” she said. “I've been getting to the (free throw) line a lot and that's been helping.

“All I was hoping for when I joined the team was a chance to play a little bit and have some fun.”

While Craig isn't used to averaging more than 30 points and 20 rebounds a game, she's not accustomed to a 1-6 record, either. The Pioneers will carry that mark into Wednesday night's home game against Penn State Fayette.

“Definitely not used to losing,” she said. “But I love the other girls on this team. Everyone is working hard and I'm pretty confident the wins will start coming.”

Hartung shares that feeling.

“We've got Craig, (Knoch graduate Carly) Burdett, (point guard) Roth ... There's a nucleus here,” he said. “Things are going to open up for other players as defenses pay more attention to Craig.

“That girl is playing with a lot of energy and passion right now.”

And with good reason. Craig's basketball career is winding down.

She will return to the Pioneers for her sophomore year in volleyball and basketball. Then Craig plans to move on to Indiana (Pa.) University to continue working toward her goal of becoming a state trooper.

“I thought about walking on and trying to make the team at IUP,” she admitted. “But I have to focus on my career at that point.

“This (BC3) is the last basketball uniform I will ever put on. I want to make it count. I guess that's my motivation.”