JACKSON TWP — Just three games into the season, Seneca Valley girls basketball coach Kelly Mathews has seen a negative trend in her team's play.

The Raiders haven't put together a solid first half in any of their three contests, including losses to Altoona and Penn-Trafford in the McKeesport Tip-Off Tournament last weekend.

In Tuesday's home loss against Hampton, the Raiders scored only five points in the first half.

Though the team did stage a fourth-quarter rally that fell three points short at 30-27, Mathews knows her team must escape from its first-half woes.

"That's three games now that we've come out and been sluggish on the offensive end," said Mathews. "We have to find a way to play well right from the start."

Trailing the Talbots 24-10 entering the final period, the Raiders opened the quarter with a 9-0 run, thanks to a pair of 3-pointers from Aly Eagle and a layup by Alyssa Miller, which was set up by Eagle's steal.

Later in the quarter, Miller drained a 3 and Catherine Messmer added a bucket that pulled SV to within 28-27 with 1:14 remaining.

The only other points scored down the stretch came from Hampton's Adrianne Ferraro, who sank two free throws with 4.8 seconds left for the 30-27 final.

Seneca Valley committed 29 turnovers and was outrebounded 41-26.

"We've got to do a better job of boxing out," said Mathews. "I do think part of the reason that we were outrebounded by that much was because in the second half, we used pressure on defense and were out of position. But rebounding isn't my top concern right now."

The Raiders were able to stay close despite their struggles on offense because Hampton shot 2-of-28 from the field in the first half and committed 23 turnovers in the game.

The Talbots did come to life in the third quarter, hitting seven field goals, including a 3 from Emilee Goodman, while outscoring SV 15-5 in the period.

"We set the game of basketball back a bit with that first half," said Hampton coach Mary Bukovac. "But we knew that the offense would come around eventually."

Eagle and Messmer each scored nine points to lead the Raiders while Goodman paced the Talbots (3-0) with nine points.

HAMPTON 30Brynley Gally 1 0-0 2, Laurel Hansen 3 0-0 6, Danielle LeFevre 1 2-2 4, Adrianne Ferraro 1 3-5 5, Emilee Goodman 4 0-0 9, Emily Gally 1 2-4 4, Brooke Goodman 0 0-0 0, Jamie Smetanka 0 0-0 0, Kiersten Wilson 0 0-0 0, Michelle Wittmer 0 0-0 0. Totals: 11 7-11 30.

SENECA VALLEY 27Aly Eagle 3 1-2 9, Alyssa Miller 2 1-2 6, Alex Karika 0 3-4 3, Catherine Messmer 4 1-1 9, Beth Talarico 0 0-0 0, Karlei Fronzaglio 0 0-0 0, Brianna Sieminski 0 0-0 0, Kara Moyer 0 0-0 0, Dani Fitzgerald 0 0-0 0. Totals: 9 6-9 27.

Hampton 6 3 15 6—30Seneca Valley 5 0 5 17—273-point goals: Hampton (E. Goodman); Seneca Valley 3 (Eagle 2, Miller).

JV: Hampton 36-28 (SV-Paige Tretter, 10 points)

Thursday: Moon at Seneca Valley