BUTLER TWP — The Section 1 slate recently turned sour for Butler's girls basketball team.

That trend continued Thursday night.

The Golden Tornado managed just six field goals and scored no more than eight points in any quarter in losing to Fox Chapel, 46-20.

It is the fifth straight section defeat for Butler (6-8, 2-6), which was 2-1 in section play entering the new year.

“This was an effort and intensity issue and that falls on me because I have to have the girls ready to play,” said Butler coach Mark Maier. “This was the third (section) game we've been down by 10 points four minutes into the game.”

The hole Butler found itself in after the first period Thursday was 14-2 and the Tornado were never able to erase that deficit.

Even with Fox Chapel's struggles on offense — scoring just eight points in the second quarter — Butler remained down by double digits, due to an 8-minute scoreless lull that straddled the first and second quarter.

When Emma Monteleone finally sank a basket with 4:21 left in the first half, Butler's deficit stood at 16-4.

Butler's troubles were in stark contrast to its performance against the Foxes Dec. 14. Though the Golden Tornado lost the game (56-53), they drained 12 treys.

The perimeter well was nearly dry on this night as Butler made just three of its 26 attempts from the outside.

“We got some good shots, but just didn't make them,” said Maier. “We missed a lot of layups, too. They say confidence is contagious, but so is not being confident.”

One trey Butler did make came from Jordan Kauffman with 6:22 left in the third quarter, cutting Fox Chapel's lead to 22-13. As bad as the first half had been, a victory was still within reach for the Tornado.

But Kauffman's make would be the only points Butler scored in the period. The Foxes (10-4, 5-3) scored 17 in the quarter to take an insurmountable 39-13 lead with just eight minutes left to play.

The run was aided by seven Butler turnovers in the third.

“In the first game, Butler had 35 points at halftime and our goal coming into tonight was to play better defense,” said Fox Chapel coach Jennifer O'Shea. “I think we did that.”

Butler played its second full game without the services of starting forward/center Julia Gibson and guard Hailey Metzger. Both are injured and hope to return to the lineup soon.

Heidi Gross, a guard, was lost for the season in early December.

Butler now finds itself in sixth place in the section standings. The top four make the playoffs.

“Every team is dealing with injuries,” said Maier. “In the position we're in, it's tough for anybody to take it one game at a time, but that's what we have to do. We have to take care of our business.”

Fox Chapel's Domenica Delaney led all scorers with 12 points, all from the free throw line.

Butler's Ali Altman grabbed nine rebounds.

FOX CHAPEL 46

Domenica Delaney 0 12-16 12, Gabby Guerrieri 4 2-2 11, Megan Friday 3 1-1 7, Claire Fenton 1 0-1 3, Ellie Schwartzman 5 1-1 11, Ally Hager 1 0-0 2, Marissa Ritter 0 0-0 0, Danielle Moretti 0 0-0 0, Jess Paper 0 0-0 0, Kyrie Nestel 0 0-0 0, Grace Ritter 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14 16-21 46.

BUTLER 20

Jordan Kauffman 2 0-0 6, Emma Monteleone 1 0-0 2, Ali Altman 0 2-2 2, Sydney Hanratty 1 1-2 3, Emilee Altman 1 2-2 5, Piper Geibel 1 0-0 2, Sarayne Forbes 0 0-2 0, Makenna Maier 0 0-0 0, Aubree Tack 0 0-0 0, Anna Michalek 0 0-0 0, Sarah Fiorina 0 0-0 0. Totals: 6 5-8 20.

Fox Chapel 14 8 17 7 — 46

Butler2 8 3 7 — 20

3-point goals: Butler 3 (Kauffman 2, E. Altman); Fox Chapel 2 (Guerrieri, Fenton).

JV: Butler 40-33 (B-Maier 16; FC-Hager 14)

Monday: Butler at Shaler