BUTLER TWP — Butler girls basketball coach Dorothea Epps wanted balanced offense and aggressive defense from her team Saturday night.

She got both.

The Golden Tornado had six players score between six and 12 points and took advantage of 23 Bethel Park turnovers to run away from the Black Hawks, 56-36, in the Butler Tip-Off Tournament championship game.

"When you bring quality teams to your own season-opening tournament at home, you better come ready to play," Epps said. "And we did.

"I told these girls to focus on each game, to execute and play our game. I'm very pleased with the way we played tonight."

Bethel Park coach Jonna Burke felt a little differently about her team's performance.

"We didn't do anything right out there," Burke said. "In no way, shape or form am I happy about this.

"I figured we'd be in for a close game because Butler has a good team this year … You never expect to lose by 20."

Butler had a 13-9 lead when Bethel 6-foot-1 sophomore forward Bridget Bielech went to the bench with her third foul. The Black Hawks were already without veteran forward Maureen Hester, who missed this tournament with a high ankle sprain.

The Golden Tornado outscored the Black Hawks 15-2 in the final 3:42 of the first half and took a 33-15 lead into intermission.

"When she (Bielech) went out, that opened a lot of things up for us offensively," Epps said. "Our plan from the start was to make Bethel defend everybody, to get everybody on our team thinking about scoring.

"Hester's a big part of their team and I'm sure that hurt them, but the other girls they had on the floor aren't exactly slouches, either."

Senior Julie Ehrman came off the bench to score 10 of her team-high 12 points in the first half. She hit a pair of 3-pointers.

"Julie had a great game," Epps said. "The way our team's set up, we expect to get a spark out of any player we send into the game off the bench."

After having only nine turnovers in Friday's win over Gateway, the Black Hawks had 15 turnovers in the first half against Butler — including nine in the second quarter.

Butler's lead peaked at 46-20 when Lyndsy Day hit a short jumper, off an Ehrman assist, with 2:49 left in the third quarter.

"A lot of our turnovers weren't even forced," Burke said. "They were dumb plays, bad passes. I have a veteran team on the floor and it was disappointing to see that.

"Their (Butler's) constant pressure rattled us. I can't dispute that. They're going to give a lot of teams fits, the way they play defense."

Amy Achesinski contributed 10 points and seven rebounds for the Tornado. Rachel Barry scored 10 points, Day and Ashley Nocera eight each.

Samantha Loadman scored 12 points and added seven rebounds for Bethel, which out-boarded Butler, 28-18.

The Black Hawks sank just 11 of 33 shots from the floor, however, after hitting only four of 26 in the first half Friday night.

"Against Gateway, we just didn't shoot well," Burke said. "We missed a lot of open shots. We didn't get many open looks tonight.

"Butler's defense was outstanding."

And Butler's defense isn't likely to change.

"Pressure defense, and getting some quick points from it, is what we do best," Epps said. "And we have to keep doing what we do best."

Gateway 46, Mercyhurst Prep 37 —

Quivana Brown scored 15 points and Shayla Scott added eight points and 14 rebounds for the Gators in the consolation game.

Lindsay Moore scored 10 points for Mercyhurst Prep.

GATEWAY 46

Quiana Brownm 6-9 3-4 15, Jamie Smith 3-8 2-2 9, Amanda Vranka 5-5 0-2 10, Alecia Wilson 2-6 0-0 4, Ashlie Prioleau 0-1 0-0 0, Shayla Scott 3-10 2-2 8, Melanie McKay 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 19-40 7-10 46

MERCYHURST PREP 37

Lindsay Moore 4-8 0-0 10, Kristen Fourbier 4-9 1-2 9, Anne Ryan 1-7 1-2 3, Leanna Feeney 0-3 0-0 0, Kirsten Olowinski 1-4 2-5 4, Kelly Nowacinski 3-7 3-4 9, Courey Schaetzle 1-2 0-0 2. Totals: 14-40 7-13 37

3-point goals:

Smith; Moore 2

JV:

Gateway, 25-18

BETHEL PARK 36

Katie Kendell 1-4 0-0 2, Samantha Loadman 4-13 4-6 12, Jesse Byers 1-1 0-0 3, Kristal Krebs 0-0 0-1 0, Erin Varley 0-0 2-2 2, Kathy Poploski 3-4 1-4 9, Kim Wilson 0-1 0-0 0, Christy Brinkhoff 0-2 0-0 0, Samantha Unger 0-4 4-4 4, Bridget Bielech 2-3 0-0 4, Rachel Rodgers 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 11-33 11-17 36

BUTLER 56

Rachel Barry 3-4 4-6 10, Karissa King 0-0 2-2 2, Lyndsy Day 2-5 4-4 8, Elizabeth Schultz 0-0 0-0 0, Ashley Nocera 2-3 3-4 8, Kelley Crater 0-0 0-0 0, Amy Achesinski 5-7 0-0 10, Maria Baroffio 2-6 2-2 6, Julie Ehrman 4-8 2-2 12, Samantha Karns 0-1 0-0 0, Michelle Ritchey 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 18-34 17-20 56

3-point goals:

Byers, Poploski 2; Nocera, Ehrman 2

JV:

Bethel Park, 45-35 (B-Karissa King 15)

Monday:

Butler @ Kiski Area