SLIPPERY ROCK — There were going to be nights like this.

With only one healthy starter from last year on the floor and a slew of sophomores filling vital roles, not everything was going to be smooth sailing for the 2019-2020 Slippery Rock High girls basketball team.

Things were definitely rough Monday night against Conneaut.

The Rockets shot poorly. Rebounding was an issue. And a gutty Conneaut team hung around for 27 minutes before Slippery Rock pulled away late for a 39-27 victory at the newly dubbed Launching Pad.

“We could have easily got our butts beat,” said Slippery Rock coach Amber Osborn. “We still got out butts beat, even though we won. We were out-hustled. We were flat.”

It wasn't until the final five minutes of the game that the Rockets looked like the team that beat rival Grove City two weeks ago and has won 20 or more games for three consecutive seasons.

Slippery Rock (7-3, 3-1) went on a 10-0 run to close the game, forcing turnovers and converting them into points.

The Rockets were also 4-for-4 from the line down the stretch.

“I just feel like the fourth quarter we pulled through, just with communication,” said sophomore guard Ella McDermott. “We finally came to the realization that we were only up (by a possession) and we have to get it in gear.”

Slippery Rock did jump out to a 10-2 lead, but watched that advantage vanish as it got mired in a deep shooting slump.

The Rockets missed 10 consecutive shots at one point as Conneaut led by four late in the first half.

A strong spurt gave Slippery Rock a 19-17 lead at the break, but most of the second half was still a slog.

Part of that had to do with Conneaut's grit.

The Eagles (3-8, 2-4) outrebounded the Rockets and also had a knack for getting to most loose balls.

Obsorn admitted she was nervous before the game because she didn't like the matchup.

“They played good and we didn't,” Osborn said. “Sometimes when they zip around you like water spiders, it's hard to guard.”

Kelly Benson led Slippery Rock with 10 points. Gianna Bedel and Anna Kadlubek each added seven in a game where both offenses struggled.

Slippery Rock shot a shade over 25 percent in the game. Conneaut was worse at 23 percent.

“We were just off,” McDermott said. “We had good and bad spurts. We finally came together and started showing our true selves.

“We had to pick each other up,” Kadlubek added.

Slippery Rock has struggled the last three games, going back to a weekend holiday tournament at Farrel.

Still, the Rockets won two of those three games and sit tied atop the region standings with Hickory.

Two huge tests on are the docket, first with Oil City at home Thursday and Meadville on the road Monday.

Thursday is important for Slippery Rock to shed its recent doldrums with junior guard Maryann Ackerman lost for the season with a torn ACL and junior swing player Hallie Raabe still out while nursing a badly sprained ankle.

That left Kadlubek as the lone returning starter on the floor for the Rockets for the better part of the season.

Instead, there was two juniors and three sophomores on the floor.

“(Raabe) makes a huge difference because she does all the dirty stuff,” Osborn said. “She does a lot of stuff that's equal to scoring 20 points a game.

“I think people look at us and think, 'Oh, Slippery Rock, they should be good,'” Osborn added. “We have one starter on the floor right now. The other four didn't see a lot of varsity time, so they're learning.”

CONNEAUT 27

Rylee Jones 4-12 0-0 8, Emma Stevenson 1-7 3-4 5, Bella Davis 1-3 0-0 2, Jenna Goldsmith 0-10 0-0 0, Jamie Decker 2-4 1-1 6, Gwynne Fuhrer 1-3 0-0 2, Aurora Grover 0-1 0-0 0, Mya Stone 2-4 0-0 4, Chloe Fields 0-2 0-0 0, Camdyn Seman 0-0 0-0 0, Samantha Egli 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 11-46 4-5 27.

SLIPPERY ROCK 39

Gianna Bedel 3-5 0-0 7, Bronwyn McCoy 3-5 0-4 6, Ella McDermott 3-13 1-2 7, Kelly Benson 3-16 2-2 10, Anna Kadlubek 2-5 3-4 7, Katie Book 0-0 2-2 2. Totals: 14-54 8-14 39.

Conneaut 7 10 6 4 — 27

Slippery Rock12 7 7 13 — 39

3-point goals: Conneaut 1 (Decker); SLippery Rock 3 (Benson 2, Bedel)

Thursday: Oil City at Slippery Rock