BUTLER TWP — Not bad for openers.

Butler County Community College's women's basketball team scored a program-record 79 points and used a 19-0 run midway through the game to run away from Penn State-New Kensington, 79-34, Tuesday night at the BC3 Field House.

"All nine players scored. All nine players contributed," Pioneers coach Sean Carroll said. "I think that will be our theme this year.

"First bucket, first free throw — everyone got that out of the way tonight."

The Pioneers led 26-14 with five minutes left in the first half before scoring the game's next 19 points to decide the issue.

Karns City graduate Stephanie Devore was 6-for-6 at the free throw line during the spurt and consecutive layups by Butler graduate Heather Spangler finished it off.

Penn State-New Kensington (1-1) has only seven players on its roster. One of them — 5-foot-10 forward Noelle Trosco — didn't suit up because of an injured knee and another player had asthma.

BC3 rotated all of its players into the game and pressed throughout the first half, taking a 41-14 lead to intermission.

"We really couldn't sub anybody and all their press did was wear us out," Lions coach Tom Saulle said. "We had to work the ball up the court every time.

"They were up by 30 and still pressing us. I don't know what that accomplishes. I don't care what they do. … What goes around, comes around."

Carroll said his team's strategy was to wear down the Lions early.

"We knew they only had six players," he said. "This was our opener and we wanted to get off to a quick start."

The Lions had 18 turnovers in the first half, 28 for the game. Besides Mende Hicks, the visitors' leading scorer with 17 points, Penn State-New Kensington sank just seven of 43 shots from the floor.

The visitors missed 10 of 11 free throws as well.

"When you're tired, you lose your legs and that affects your shooting," Saulle said.

Four Pioneers scored in double figures. Seneca Valley graduate Julie Wills netted 14 points, including four treys, while Shannon Onderko had 13 points, Devore had 12 points and seven rebounds, and Bethany Rodgers had 11 points.

BC3 recorded a 46-38 rebounding edge. Karns City graduate Laura Seyler had nine rebounds, and Knoch graduate Liz Burgard, Spangler and Brittany Beatty had five each.

"We're going to need that team rebounding," Carroll said. "That's our athleticism. We're not tall, but I'll trade a couple of inches of height for athleticism any time."

Penn State-New Kensington's program is in its second year under Saulle, who won 299 games in 20 years while coaching at Freeport High School.

The Lions finished 4-17 last year.

"We need to get some numbers, but that day will come," Saulle said. "I really didn't expect to coach again when I left Freeport, but they offered me the job and made it easy for me to take it.

"My priority is still as a principal, and they understand that," Saulle added, referring to his position at Buffalo Elementary in the Freeport school district.

Freeport graduate Laney Pastoria is playing for the Lions this season.

BC3 travels to Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, Friday night.

PSU-NEW KENSINGTON (34)Missy Dollman 0-3 0-4 0, Jess Cox 2-16 1-4 7, Mende Hicks 8-15 0-2 17, Lauren Caldwell 3-6 0-0 6, Erin Weber 0-7 0-0 0, Laney Pastoria 2-11 0-0 4. Totals: 15-58 1-10 34.

BCCC (79)Shannon Onderko 6-14 0-0 213, Bethany Rodgers 4-8 0-0 11, Julie Wills 4-8 2-2 14, Stephanie Devore 3-9 6-6 12, Jenna Beatty 1-3 0-0 2, Brittany Beatty 3-4 0-0 6, Laura Seyler 2-6 2-2 6, Liz Burgard 4-9 0-0 9, Heather Spangler 3-7 0-1 6. Totals: 30-68 10-11 79.

Three-point goals — .Cox 2, Hicks; Onderko, Rodgers 3, Wills 4, Burgard