SLIPPERY ROCK — Butler girls basketball coach Mark Maier was certainly expecting a better offensive effort in Thursday's game at Slippery Rock, but his team's struggles did lead to the answer he was hoping for to a particular question.

“Can we win a game when we're shooting the ball badly?,” he asked, already knowing the answer after watching his team pull away from the Rockets for a 35-25 win.

Butler had played a similar game in its season opener against Knoch Dec. 10, losing to the Knights 39-37.

Entering the fourth quarter of Thursday's game, the Golden Tornado had made just nine of their 38 attempts from the field. Most of the misses came from long range and Butler made all four of its shots from inside the arc in the final period.

“We began to delay things more in the fourth and got some layups,” Maier said. “We also were much better on defense late, didn't foul.

“Slippery Rock is a well-coached and tough team. We're glad to get out of here with a win.”

Though Butler shot just eight percent (two of 24) from beyond the arc in the game, Maier considered Maisy Gibson's trey at the third quarter buzzer to be the biggest shot of the game. It gave the Tornado a 24-23 lead.

“We never trailed after that,” he said. “Starting with that 3-pointer, we outscored them 14-2 the rest of the game.”

The Rockets (1-3) hit a wall in the final quarter, scoring just two points on free throws from Bronwyn McCoy.

“It was a combination of kids not listening and poor execution. Butler frustrated us,” said Slippery Rock coach Amber Osborn, who is having several players play point guard after the graduation of four-year starter Anna Kadlubek.

McCoy handled much of the ball-handling duties against Butler and led the Rockets with 14 points.

Through four games, the Rockets are averaging just 32.5 points per game.

“We're mixing it up depending on who we're playing and what they're showing us,” Osborn said. “It's tough, especially with Bronwyn. She's been (a center) for us.”

Maier scored 16 points and tallied nine rebounds for the Tornado (5-1). Megan Penrod added six steals and Aubree Tack five steals.

BUTLER 35

Hannah Aldridge 0 2-2 2, Macklin Hanley 1 0-0 2, Maisy Gibson 2 1-5 6, Makenna Maier 6 3-3 16, Aubree Tack 4 1-3 9, Jessica Chwalik 0 0-0 0. Totals: 13 7-13 35.

SLIPPERY ROCK 25

Gianna Bedel 1 0-0 3, Audrey Kura 2 2-2 6, Bronwyn McCoy 4 5-6 14, Ella McDermott 1 0-1 2, Julia Coffaro 0 0-2 0. Totals: 8 7-11 25.

Butler 9 8 7 11 — 35

Slippery Rock 8 10 5 2 — 25

3-point goals: Butler 2 (Gibson, Maier); Slippery Rock 2 (Bedel, McCoy).

Monday: Slippery Rock vs. A-C Valley at Farrell Tournament

Tuesday: Hempfield at Butler