SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — Something just seemed off for Slippery Rock girls basketball in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s PIAA first-round playoff against Elizabeth Forward.

Through three quarters, the Rockets had been very efficient with their shot attempts, making 12 of 19, and had out-rebounded the Warriors 25-16.

But with 1:02 to play, Slippery Rock was clinging to a 45-44 lead.

Turnovers, 11 of them coming in the third quarter, had allowed Elizabeth Forward to stay in the game.

“We had a freshman and two sophomores on the floor,” Rockets coach Jeff Steele said. “They (Warriors) started playing an extended zone, and we were treating the ball like it was a hot potato there for a while. We called a timeout and things settled down for us.”

Slippery Rock scored the next nine points, all at the free throw line, in posting a 54-46 victory on its home court.

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The Rockets (20-5) will take on District 7 champ Oakland Catholic (22-2), which defeated Corry 64-26 in the first round, in a second-round playoff Wednesday at a site and time to be determined.

Brielle Jordan, Jolin Lin, Isabel Drake and Gia Kovacik each contributed points at the line for the Rockets in the final 1:02, taking advantage of an intentional foul and a technical foul called against the Warriors.

A player for each team — Slippery Rock’s Madison Romanovich and Elizabeth Forward’s Kaylin Staszak — fouled out in the fourth period.

“We knew we were going to have to match their physicality,” said Jordan, who paced the Rockets with 17 points. “I think they thought that they were gonna come in here and blow us out.”

Jordan scored nine of her points in the opening period, after which Slippery Rock led 13-10.

The Warriors (18-9) cut their deficit to 28-20 with Mia Sostaric’s trey just before halftime.

In the second half, it was sophomore Vanessa Hinkle who led the Rockets, scoring 11 of her 16 points over the final two quarters.

“She has realized what a valuable cog she is for us, and is playing with a lot of confidence,” Steele said.

Kaelynn Settles scored 17 for Elizabeth Forward. She and Sostaric entered the night averaging 31 points per game between them. They combined for 24 on Saturday.

The Warriors shot just 30% (16 of 53) from the floor.

“They like to play fast, with a lot of quick shots,” Steele said of the Warriors. “That’s how we have played for much of the last two seasons, but we’ve recently focused more on playing well in the halfcourt.”

Said Jordan: “We have formed a sisterhood this year. It’s important to stay positive with each other and we did that tonight.

“It’s great to be part of something that’s bigger than us.”

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ELIZABETH FORWARD 46

Kaelynn Settles 5 7-11 17, Addison Wach 3 0-0 8, Mia Sostaric 3 0-4 7, Kaylin Staszak 0 1-2 1, McKenna Bittner 3 1-2 9, Madisyn Cegelski 1 0-0 2, Loralie Smith 1 0-0 2, Caroline Spence 0 0-2 0, Mia Curinga 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16 9-21 46.

SLIPPERY ROCK 54

Brielle Jordan 3 10-14 17, Gia Kovacik 1 2-4 4, Vanessa Hinkle 7 2-4 16, Madison Romanovich 1 5-8 7, Jolin Lin 1 1-2 3, Isabel Drake 2 3-4 7, Ryleigh Cornelius 0 0-0 0, Emma Burr 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15 23-36 54.

Elizabeth Forward 10 10 12 14 — 46

Slippery Rock 13 15 8 18 — 54

3-point goals: Elizabeth Forward 5 (Wach 2, Bittner 2, Sostaric); Slippery Rock 1 (Jordan).

Wednesday: Slippery Rock vs. Oakland Catholic, PIAA Class 4A second-round playoff, TBD