SLIPPERY ROCK — The only thing colder than the gym was the Franklin shooters.

With the heat off at Slippery Rock High, making the Rock Box more like the Ice Box, the Rockets instead turned up the defensive heat on the Knights in a 55-46 win on a frigid Monday night — both inside and out.

Franklin was 6-of-30 shooting in the first half. A second half warm-up couldn't save the Knights from the 21-4 early hole the Rockets put them in.

"I was pleased defensively," said Slippery Rock coachAdrienne Orris. "Obviously in the first half, I was very pleased. They came in cold."

On the other hand, Adele Campbell was sizzling. The Rockets junior post player scored 15 points and she did it with an aggressive style, bullying her way to the hoop and either scored or drew a foul. She was 7-of-9 at the free throw line and turned in a double-digit effort on the boards.

Throw in a couple of blocked shots and Campbell was a force.

"She definitely was determined out there," Orris said. "Her play definitely propelled us, offensively and defensively."

Franklin (4-3, 1-1) was just as determined.

After digging themselves into that early 17-point deficit, the Knights slowly crawled back into the game.

By halftime, the lead was down to 12. At the end of the third quarter, it was 10. With three minutes remaining in the game, Franklin cut the Slippery Rock advantage to six points.

But the Rockets (4-3, 2-0) responded with a huge 3-pointer by SarahCessar, who scored 11 points, and let their free throw shooting do the rest.

After going 21-of-21 from the foul line in a win over Meadville last week, the Rockets were 14-of-17 against Franklin.

"When you are leading a good team by (17 points), you have to know that team is going to make a run," Orris said. "The half is not going to end 42-8.

"The experience of last year is really helping at this point. I'm expecting them to have poise now and not be rattled."

Sadie Gravatt did everything she could to get into Slippery Rock's head.

The Franklin guard scored 19 points and hit five 3-pointers — four coming in the second half.

Gravatt was the only double-digit scorer for Franklin. Meanwhile, Slippery Rock nearly had all five starters crack double digits.

Karly Rhoads added 10 points, Kourtney Rhoads eight and Ali Doyle seven.

After a difficult schedule to start the season, the Rockets find themselves with two wins against two of the top teams in the region.

"We'll have some tough games after the break, but I'm happy being 2-0," Orris said. "Hopefully, this will be something to build on going into the new year."

FRANKLIN 46Sadie Gravatt 6-15 2-2 19, Katelyn Ritchey 4-8 0-0 8, Jenn Kahle 1-2 0-0 2, Carissa Dolan 2-6 0-0 4, Natalie Hager 2-8 1-2 5, Autumn Witt 0-4 2-2 2, Brooke Deal 1-9 1-3 1, Bethany Foust 1-6 0-0 3, Tiffany Witt 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 17-58 5-12 46

SLIPPERY ROCK 55Karly Rhoads 3-10 4-4 10, Ali Doyle 3-8 0-0 7, Kourtney Rhoads 2-6 3-4 8, Adele Campbell 4-11 7-9 15, Sarah Cessar 5-13 0-0 11, Taylor Crocker 2-4 0-0 4.

Totals: 19-52 14-17 55

Franklin 4 9 18 14—46Slippery Rock 12 13 16 14—553-point goals: Gravatt 5, Foust; Doyle, Kourtney Rhoads, Cessar

JV: Slippery Rock 52-17

Saturday: Slippery Rock at Girard Holiday Tournament