Slippery Rock girls basketball stays unbeaten in District 10 region play with boost from freshman Jolin Lin
SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — Recently pressed into a starting role due to an injured teammate, Slippery Rock girls basketball freshman Jolin Lin came up big for the Rockets Monday night.
Hosting backyard rival Grove City, the Rockets struggled for much of the night offensively. Lin, who entered the game having scored 24 points all season, dropped a team-leading 12 to help Slippery Rock remain undefeated in District 10 Region 4 play with a 42-33 victory.
Lin was making her fifth start after Gia Kovacik went down with an injury in late January. The latter returned to the court Monday, scoring six points off the bench.
“Jo has been scoring between six and eight points per game for us,” Slippery Rock coach Jeff Steele said. “She’s a role player and has been fantastic. I began coaching her in the third grade, and she has so much knowledge of the game.”
Lin’s final bucket of the night put the Rockets up 28-19 with 4:03 left in the third quarter, but she later fed teammate Vanessa Hinkle with a pass from the paint for another clutch two points, making it 38-33 with 1:28 left.
“I still get a little nervous being a starter, but it felt good to score some points early,” Lin said. “I can knock down open shots.”
Grove City (9-12, 3-4) learned that the hard way as Lin scored seven of her team’s 11 points in the first quarter. She had sunk just one 3-pointer the whole season, but accounted for both of the Rockets’ treys Monday.
Slippery Rock had to sweat out a contentious second half. A swarming Eagles defense forced the Rockets into 11 turnovers in that span, and senior Madison Romanovich, who averages over 23 points per game, fouled out with 10 points with 3:45 left in the game and Slippery Rock leading 32-26.
“We just stayed together and played as a team,” Lin said.
The Rockets (16-4, 7-0) have already clinched a share of the Region 4 title. They can take it outright with a victory Thursday at Greenville, the final game before the District 10 playoffs.
“We are 12-1 against Class 4A teams this season,” Steele said. “Our only loss came with two starters out against General McLane.”
GROVE CITY 33
Maddie Barr 1 3-3 6, Aisling Brink 1 1-2 3, Talia Bianconi 3 1-6 9, Savannah Cook 1 0-0 2, Lola Kolbe 5 0-4 11, Bri Brown 0 2-2 2, Autumn Cook 0 0-0 0. Totals: 11 7-17 33.
SLIPPERY ROCK 42
Brielle Jordan 1 3-4 5, Ryleigh Cornelius 0 2-2 2, Vanessa Hinkle 3 1-5 7, Jolin Lin 5 0-0 12, Madison Romanovich 3 4-8 10, Gia Kovacik 2 2-4 6. Totals: 14 12-23 42.
Grove City 5 6 12 10 — 33
Slippery Rock 11 13 6 12 — 42
3-point goals: Grove City 4 (Bianconi 2, Barr, Kolbe); Slippery Rock 2 (Lin 2).
Thursday: Slippery Rock at Greenville
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Slippery Rock’s Jolin Lin (21) shoots a 3-pointer against Grove City in a girls basketball game Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock’s Jolin Lin (21) dribbles around a Grove City defender in a girls basketball game Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock’s Gia Kovacik (12) and Grove City’s Talia Biancconi (12) battle for possession of the ball in a girls basketball game Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock’s Brielle Jordan (10) shoots the ball against Grove City in a girls basketball game Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated Grove City 42-33 in a girls basketball game Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock’s JoLin Lin (21) dribbles around Grove City’s defense in a girls basketball game Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock’s Madison Romanovich (24) dribbles the ball in a girls basketball game Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock’s Gia Kovacik (12) passes the ball in a girls basketball game Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock’s Gia Kovacik (12) shoots the ball in a girls basketball game Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock’s JoLin Lin (21) shoots a 3-pointer in a girls basketball game Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock’s Madison Romanovich (24) dribbles the ball in a girls basketball game Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated Grove City 42-33 in a girls basketball game Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated Grove City 42-33 in a girls basketball game Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock’s Ryliegh Cornelius (14) looks for an opening to shoot in a girls basketball game Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock’s Gia Kovacik (12) right, and Grove City’s Talia Biancconi (12) battle over possession of the ball in a girls basketball game Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated Grove City 42-33 in a girls basketball game Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated Grove City 42-33 in a girls basketball game Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated Grove City 42-33 in a girls basketball game Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock’s Brielle Jordan (10) shoots the ball in a girls basketball game Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated Grove City 42-33 in a girls basketball game Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated Grove City 42-33 in a girls basketball game Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock’s Vanessa Hinkle (15) shoots the ball in a girls basketball game Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated Grove City 42-33 in a girls basketball game Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
