BUTLER TWP — Butler used a 10-0 run to turn a 9-point deficit into a lead going into the fourth quarter.

Then Burrell turned to its trump card.

“It's nice to have a Division I player available off the bench,” Bucs coach Meghan Ziemianski said.

Senior forward Natalie Myers, headed to Youngstown State on a full scholarship, did not play the third quarter Tuesday night due to foul trouble. She began the fourth period by draining a pair of treys, giving the lead back to Burrell and sparking a 53-43 girls basketball win over the Golden Tornado.

Myers wound up with 24 points and eight rebounds despite not playing the final two minutes of the second period and all of the third.

“She's a special player,” Butler coach Joe Lewandowski said. “You saw the spark she gave her team tonight.

“But our girls battled her. We fought her. We fronted her. We didn't make it easy for her.”

Butler (0-3) trailed 24-19 with 2:06 left in the first half when Myers was whistled for her third personal foul. She then picked up a technical foul for her fourth and left the game.

Jenna Kunst sank two free throws and Kailey Olenick hit a pair to pull the Tornado within 24-23. A late trey by Eliza Oswalt stemmed the Butler momentum temporarily.

Trailing 32-23 early in the third, Butler put together its best stretch of play in this young season. Kunst sank two free throws, Tiana Schaffner stuck back an offensive rebound, then scored on a fast-break.

Julia Gibson converted a lay-up and Schaffner added another for a 33-32 Tornado lead. Butler briefly fell behind before a Kunst trey gave the hosts a 36-34 edge through three quarters.

“You have to take a bunch of baby steps before you can walk,” Lewandowski said. “We're getting there. The difference in our play in our third game compared to our first is very encouraging.”

Burrell (3-1) built a big lead in the final quarter. Oswalt followed Myers' two treys with one of her own, then sank four free throws as the Bucs had a 49-39 edge with 1:29 to play. The lead peaked at 53-41 with 24 seconds left.

“This was our fourth game in six days and we didn't have much in the tank tonight,” Ziemianski said. “Our athletic director gave us an NBA schedule this week.”

Burrell shared its section title last season and returns all five of its starters.

Oswalt had 17 points, five rebounds and three assists for the Bucs.

Butler had three players score in double figures. Kunst had 12 points, 11 rebounds and four assists, Schaffner 12 points and Olenick 10.

“Jenna was outstanding tonight,” Lewandowski said. “She's like a baby deer, just beginning to realize what she can do out there.

“It's good she got to play against Myers tonight. That's the type of player she's aspiring to be.”

Butler opens section play Thursday night at North Hills.

“The section games are what it's about, it's how you make the playoffs,” Lewandowski said. “We're excited about the chance to go in there and compete.”

BURRELL 53

Eliza Oswalt 4-12 7-8 17, Brooke Smith 3-7 0-1 7, Nicole Kristof 0-3 5-9 5, Brittany Dunn 0-5 0-0 0, Bailie Taylor 0-2 0-2 0, Natalioe Myers 9-12 2-2 24. Totals: 16-40 14-22 53.

BUTLER 43

Melea Barlow 1-3 0-2 2, Jenna Kunst 3-8 5-6 12, Sydney Hanratty 0-1 90-0 0, Noel Pfabe 1-3 0-0 3, Kelsee Callihan 0-0 0-0 0, Julia Gibson 2-7 0-0 4, Tiana Schaffner 6-6 0-1 12, Kailey Olenick 3-8 4-4 10. Totals: 16-36 9-13 43.

Burrell 14 13 7 19 — 53

Butler10 13 13 7 — 43

3-point goals: Oswalt 2, Smith, Myers 4; Kunst, Pfabe

Thursday: Butler at North Hills