JACKSON TWP — It was as if the Seneca Valley girls basketball team was playing a different opponent from the one it faced just 12 days ago.

In one respect it was.

The Raiders beat North Allegheny 49-36 on Jan. 2 for a loss that was one of five straight NA suffered as it began the section season 0-5.

But the Tigers entered Monday's rematch having won their last two section games and they made it three straight with a 45-34 win over SV.

"Even though we started 0-5, we had some close games, taking New Castle and Butler down to the buzzer," said Tigers coach Sherri McConnell. "We just needed to get a win and get over the hump."

The turning point in Monday's game came at the end of the third quarter.

It appeared as though the score would be tied at 29 entering the final period, but NA junior guard Dawn Murphy drained a 3-pointer with four seconds left.

Freshman Kelly Brennan stole the ensuing inbounds pass and was fouled by SV's Jackie Mangola before making both free throws for a 34-29 lead.

"We talk a lot about frustration fouls, and I think that's what happened," said SV coach Kelly Mathews. "Jackie was frustrated about the turnover and she committed the foul."

"Dawn stepped up and hit that 3, and Kelly just made a great play, getting the steal and the foul," said McConnell. "It was a huge momentum swing for us."

Still, a five-point deficit with eight minutes to play is certainly manageable. But the Raiders began the fourth quarter just like they ended the third.

NA scored the first five points of the period for a 39-29 edge.

SV senior guard Megan Gebrosky broke the run with a three-point play with 4:24 left in the game and Alyssa Miller followed with a basket that cut the Tigers' lead to 39-34 with 3:05 remaining.

But those were SV's last points of the game, as the Raiders' final possessions yielded missed shots and turnovers.

SV's offense has struggled most of the season, and, after a three section-game winning streak in which the team averaged nearly 46 points, it scored in double figures in just the first quarter on Monday.

"We'd love to see a couple of girls step up and consistently score 12 or 13 points per game," said Mathews. "But it's difficult when you're not sure who to get the ball to."

The Raiders (6-10, 4-4) still have a strong shot at the WPIAL playoffs.

"We have to be able to play through adversity," said Mathews. "Teams are going to go on runs and we have to play through that."

The Tigers (8-7, 3-5) don't have to wait for postseason play.

"We're in the playoffs right now," said McConnell. "We can't afford to lose and we've told the girls that. That's the kind of mentality we have."

Notes: Mangola led the Raiders with 10 points. ... Brennan paced the Tigers with 14 points, while Murphy and Jackie Lang each contributed 11 points.

NORTH ALLEGHENY 45Dawn Murphy 4 0-0 11, Katie Polley 0 1-2 1, Kelly Brennan 4 4-4 14, Laura Sudo 2 0-0 4, Jackie Lang 4 3-4 11, Ginny Thistle 2 0-0 4, Julie Figan 0 0-2 0, Andrea Elmore 0 0-0 0.

Totals: 16 8-12 45.

SENECA VALLEY 34Aly Eagle 1 0-0 3, Megan Gebrosky 2 4-5 8, Alyssa Miller 2 0-0 4, Kelsey Patsilevas 1 0-0 3, Jackie Mangola 2 4-4 10, Catherine Messmer 3 0-1 6, Shayna Elser 0 0-0 0.

Totals: 11 8-10 34.

North Allegheny 14 6 14 11—45Seneca Valley 11 9 9 5—343-point goals: North Allegheny 5 (Murphy 3, Brennan 2); Seneca Valley 4 (Mangola 2, Eagle, Patsilevas).

JV: North Allegheny 62-38 (SV-Kara Moyer, 13 points)

Thursday: Seneca Valley at New Castle