BUTLER TWP — The performance wasn't perfect, but the record still is.

And that's what matters to Sean Carroll.

The Butler County Community College women's basketball coach watched his team commit eight first-half turnovers, shoot just 13 of 22 from the free throw line and miss countless layups in the championship game of the BC3 Tip-Off Tournament Tuesday night.

But in the end, the Pioneers (4-0) weathered the storm to defeat Community College of Allegheny County-South 55-48.

"We didn't play well tonight," Carroll said. "But a sign of a good team is when the players make plays when they have to. And I've tried to instill that in the players."

BC3 found itself down 45-41 with less than nine minutes to play.

During a timeout, Carroll switched from a zone defense to a full court press.

It was just the tonic his team needed.

The Pioneers' defense forced turnovers on four straight CCAC-South possessions, which led to an 8-0 run by BC3 and a 49-45 lead.

The Tigers (3-3), who defeated Olean (N.Y.) Monday to advance to the championship game, never led the rest of the game.

The score stalled at 52-48 for more than four minutes before Knoch graduate Liz Burgard made a field goal to make it 54-48 with 27 seconds remaining.

The Pioneers held a slim 27-25 lead at halftime, despite being outrebounded 28-12 in the first half.

Much of the Tigers' dominance on the glass was due to the play of Shayne Perdue and Janielle Pratt, who finished the game with nine and 12 rebounds, respectively.

"I kept telling our players that when we box out for a rebound, all five have to do it," said Carroll. "If four box out, but one doesn't, it's all for naught.

"They ended up with a rebounding advantage on us tonight, but most of that came from the first half."

The Pioneers improved on the boards in the final 20 minutes, pulling down 14 to the Tigers' 16.

In the end, the win is the most important thing for Carroll.

"I'm always happy to get a win," he said. "I'll take that over the alternative any day."

Seneca Valley graduate Julie Wills was chosen the tournament MVP. She had 10 points and four rebounds in Tuesday's win after tallying 14 points in Monday's win over CCAC-Boyce. Karns City graduate Stephanie Devore was named to the all-tournament team following a nine-point performance against the Tigers.

Notes:

CCAC-South committed 27 turnovers in the game, while BC3 had 14. … Rebecca Maksin led the Tigers with 14 points. … Burgard led the Pioneers with six rebounds in the game, five coming in the second half.

BCCC (55)

Julie Wills 4 0-0 10, Stephanie Devore 2 5-8 9, Shannon Onderko 4 0-1 9, Brittany Beatty 2 0-0 4, Jenna Beatty 0 1-2 1, Beth Rodgers 3 0-0 7, Briana Reebel 3 1-2 7, Laura Seyler 0 2-2 2, Liz Burgard 1 1-3 3, Heather Spangler 0 3-4 3. Totals: 19 13-22 55.

CCAC-South (48)

Shayne Perdue 2 2-2 8, Rebecca Maksin 5 1-2 14, Melissa Smalley 2 0-0 4, Ashleigh Hays 4 2-3 10, Janielle Pratt 2 0-0 4, CheRonda Ransom 4 0-0 8. Totals: 19 5-7 48.

Three-point goals

— CCAC-South (Maksin 3, Perdue 2); BC3 (Wills 2, Onderko, Rodgers).