BUTLER TWP - The Butler County Community College women's basketball team did everything it could to stay close to Franciscan (Ohio) University Friday's contest.

But you can only keep a deep bench down for so long.

The Pioneers trailed 41-38 with 14 minutes remaining, but the Barons went on a 17-2 run to take an 18-point lead in their 67-46 victory.

"We have nine players who are interchangeable, except our three big girls," said Barons coach Kelly Herrmann. "We try and sub a lot and try and make the other team work."

The Pioneers had just six players, but they still trimmed an eight-point deficit to two, a nine-point deficit to four and an eight-point margin to three before Franciscan pulled away.

"We just ran out of gas," said Pioneers coach Sean Carroll. "Talent-wise, they weren't much better.

"I tip my hat to our starting five. As the year goes on, we'll be better. It just caught up to us in the second half. We couldn't get over the hump.

"The needle was getting close to 'E'," Carroll added.

BC3 (1-2) enjoyed an early 8-6 lead before the Lady Barons (5-2) scored the next nine points and 11 of 12 to take a 17-9 lead.

The Pioneers responded with a 10-4 run - highlighted by a pair of Melissa Lewetag 3-pointers - to pull to within two points at 21-19.

"We were really a step slow on defense, real lethargic," said Herrmann. "Offensively, we were getting good shots, but defensively, just slow.

"I had (Katy Hadro), one of our senior captains, out there. I kept her in, then bring in four subs. I'd tell the ones that came off 'Watch them play defense and then play better defense then them," she added.

Franciscan answered with a 10-3 run over the final 5:49 of the half to take a 31-22 lead.

To open the second half, Stephanie DeVore, a freshman from Karns City, stole a pass and scored to set an early tone that the Pioneers were not going to go away.

After a basket by Hadro, DeVore scored and Seneca Valley grad Julie Wills buried a 3-pointer to make it a 33-29 game.

A 6-2 spurt by the Barons opened an eight-point lead again, but the Pioneers received a basket and a 3-pointer by Lewetag (Knoch), the latter with 14:33 remaining to make it 39-36.

With the score 41-38, the Barons began to make their move.

Hadro sank a basket and added a pair of free throws followed by a pair of free throws and a score by Lori Lynn Hamman to open a 49-38 advantage.

Wills connected on two free throws, but a 9-0 run by Franciscan, including six points from Maggie Thrun, gave the squad a 58-40 lead with 5:24 remaining to put the game out of reach.

Hadro and Hamman led Franciscan with 14 points apiece. The squad had five players reach double figures.

The Pioneers got 14 points from Wills, 13 from Lewetag and 10 from DeVore.

"If (BC3) had a couple more players, it could have been different," said Herrmann.

"We were competitive with them. They're 5-2. They're no slouches. They're a four-year school," said Carroll.

Notes: Carroll is hoping to have Karns City graduate Brittany Anderson join the team early next week … The Pioneers return to action Monday when they host CCAC-Boyce.

FRANCISCAN UNIVERSITY (67)

Katy Hadro 5 3-3 14, Becky Lykins 0 0-0 0, Lori Lynn Hamman 6 2-2 14, Audrey Raines 2 0-0 4, Libby Kuczynski 4 1-2 11, Maggie Thrun 5 0-0 10, Hannah Wigton 5 0-0 10, Samantha Niewald 1 0-2 2, Jayne Smith 1 0-0 2. Totals: 29 6-9 67.

BCCC (46)

Alicia Sheppeck 2 4-4 8, Melissa Lewetag 5 0-1 13, Stephanie DeVore 3 4-7 10, Julie Wills 4 5-6 14, Becky Snyder 0 1-2 1, Sarah Wike 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14 14-20 46.

Three-point goals - .Kuczynski 2, Hadro; Lewetag 3, Wills