SLIPPERY ROCK — Stay the course.

After defeating rival Grove City by 30 and 22 points in their two regular season meetings, Slippery Rock's girls basketball team found itself trailing the Eagles by a point in their District 10 Class 5A semifinal Wednesday night.

“You're always nervous when you're playing Grove City,” SR coach Amber Osborn team. “They're a good team and they make adjustments.

“We knew this wasn't going to be easy.”

After hitting just five of 16 shots in the first half, the Rockets (15-3) sank three treys on their first five shots to begin the third quarter. They never lost the lead at that point in battling to a 42-36 victory at home.

Slippery Rock is in the district title game for the fifth straight year and will face Warren — a winner over Harbor Creek — for the D-10 crown Saturday at Warren.

The Rockets never led in the first half. After Maryann Ackerman banked in a trey 17 seconds into the third quarter, they never trailed in the second.

“I told Maryann I didn't care about that banked-in three. I'll take it,” Osbvorn said, smiling.

Hallie Raabe followed with a trey and Ackerman hit another. Slippery Rock began the quarter with a 13-0 run, an Ackerman steal resulting in her going to the line for two free throws and a 30-18 lead with 3:54 left in the period.

“Grove City has good players. Our girls have known their girls through AAU ball since we were all 12 years old,” Ackerman said.

“It's fun playing them. We expected a tough game and we got one.”

Grove City (16-4) fought back and got within 32-28 on a Hannah Reiber trey with 14 seconds left in the third period. But Raabe stuck back an offensive rebound just before the buzzer, then sank a layup to begin the final quarter.

The Eagles never got closer than six points again.

“One of those 3's was banked in. Another rattled around and dropped in,” Grove City coach Chris Burtch said. “It doesn't matter. Great players make great plays — and they have great players.”

Ackerman was fouled with 1:42 remaining and the Rockets leading by six. A contact lens came loose in her eye on the play.

Before stepping to the line, she walked over to the Slippery Rock bench and removed both contacts.

“My vision's not that bad,” she said. “I didn't want to come out of the game at that point, so I just took them out and kept playing.”

Ackerman sank both free throws and Slippery Rock was not threatened again.

“We stayed the course. Our girls didn't freak out,” Osborn said. “I loved the way they kept their composure throughout this close game.

“We had a similar game at Mercyhurst and it got away from us. I'm glad we experienced that for the first time there and not tonight.”

Ackerman had 13 points and seven assists for the Rockets. Anna Kadlubek added 11 points and three assists, Raabe eight points and seven rebounds. Kelly Benson had seven boards as well.

“We didn't rebound well enough in the first half,” Osborn said. “We got after it much better in the second half.”

“We definitely came out more motivated,” Ackerman said.

Clara Hannon scored 15 points for Grove City. Becca Santom had seven points, eight rebounds and four assists.

Grove City's only losses this year were to Slippery Rock (three times) and District 10 Class 6A champion McDowell.

“All of our losses the past three years have been to elite teams,” Burtch said. “I am so proud of my girls, especially our three seniors, Alli Lewis, Becca Santom and Selah Severson.

“Slippery Rock has four great seniors and they are a tremendous team. I teach a lot of those girls at this school. I wish them nothing but the best moving forward.”

GROVE CITY 36Clara Hannon 6-9 0-1 15, Piper Como 0-7 0-0 0, Allie Lewis 0-2 0-0 0, Becca Santom 2-6 3-4 7, Emma Santom 3-10 1-1 7, Hannah Reiber 3-7 0-0 7. Totals: 14-41 4-6 36.

SLIPPERY ROCK 42Maryann Ackerman 3-6 5-9 13, Ella McDermott 1-2 0-0 2, Kelly Benson 2-4 0-0 6, Hallie Raabe 3-7 1-5 8, Bronwyn McCoy 0-1 2-2 2, Anna Kadlubek 4-11 2-2 11. Totals: 13-31 10-18 42.Grove City 8 10 10 8 — 36Slippery Rock6 11 17 8 — 423-point goals: Hannon 3, Reiber; Ackerman 2, Benson 2, Raabe, KadlubekSaturday: District 10 5A Championship-Slippery Rock at Warren