WEST MIFFLIN — Butler had not practiced in two days and hadn't played in a week.

“You don't want to make excuses, but I think that caught up to us a little bit in the second half tonight,” Golden Tornado coach Mark Maier said of his team's 45-38 loss Friday nuight at West Mifflin.

“Bottom line is, we have to coach better and play better.”

Butler (1-2) had a 28-24 lead at the half, but scored only 10 points in the second half. Jenna Kuntz led the Tornado with 12 points and five rebounds. Emilee Altman sank three treys for nine points.

Murphy and Poindexter scored 12 points each for West Mifflin (3-2).

“Things snowballed and got away from us in the second half,” Maier said.

BUTLER 38

Mia Rader 1 2-2 5, Alyssa Eyth 1 0-1 2, Jenna Kuntz 3 6-8 12, Julia Gibson 1 0-0 2, Emilee Altman 3 0-1 9, Alison Altman 1 0-0 2, Jordan Kauffman 1 0-0 2, Emma Monteleone 0 1-2 1, Syd Hanratty 1 0-0 3, Heidi Gross 0 0-1 0. Totals: 12 9-15 38.

WEST MIFFLIN 45

Genes 2 1-2 6, Reid 2 1-4 5, Zavelsky 1 0-1 2, Murphy 5 2-3 12, Poindexter 4 4-6 12, Adams 1 0-0 2, Yuhas 2 0-1 6. Totals: 17 8-19 45.

Butler 13 15 5 5 — 38

Home9 15 13 8 — 45

3-point goals: Rader, E. Altman 3, Hanratty; Genes, Yuhas 2

Saturday: McDowell at Butler, 1:30 p.m.