CRANBERRY TWP — Vincentian Academy senior Brenna Wise missed her first eight shots and scored just four points in the first half.

Still, the Royals’ girls basketball team led Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic 28-20 after two quarters.

“My teammates are incredible,” Wise said. “We’re not just a one-man team, and I think we showed that right there. We are very dynamic.”

The Cranberry Township resident showed how dynamic she could be in the third quarter as Vincentian unleashed a full-court press on Cardinal Wuerl. Wise scored 14 points and had five steals in the third quarter as the Royals turned a six-point game into a 23-point lead at one point on the way to a 61-48 victory Thursday night.

Heading into the half, Cardinal Wuerl coach Molly Rottman was pleased with the way her team was playing.

“I was happy. I thought we were handling Brenna and they had a couple of girls in foul trouble,” Rottman said. “We were shooting 23 percent and we were only down eight.”

Then the press happened and with it a slew of turnovers for the Trojanettes.

Vincentian (18-1, 11-0) went on a quick 12-0 run after Cardinal Wuerl (15-5, 10-2) had cut the lead to six with an early basket in the third quarter and then went on another 10-2 run to close the quarter and put the game out of reach.

“We knew coming in we were going to eventually play that defense,” said Vincentian coach Ron Moncrief. “We didn’t play it in the first game against them. We needed to create some intensity and some turnovers, that’s why we made that adjustment.”

Wise was the key to the press. She got five of her seven steals in the third quarter and turned those into easy baskets.

Wise, who surpassed 2,000 career points last month and is heading to the University of Pittsburgh next year, sometimes has her defense overlooked.

“I think the saying is true: offense sells tickets, but defense wins games,” Wise said. “You have to work hard on both ends of the court. If you work harder on defense, the other side on offense is going to come a little bit easier.

“I’m honored to (score 2,000 career points), but points don’t define a player,” Wise added. “I’m all about the wins. I’d rather not score a point if we can win a state championship.”

Wise finished with 18 points, 14 rebounds and three blocked shots.

Meanwhile, Cardinal Wuerl’s star, Sam Breen, also struggled in the first half, scoring just five points.

But Breen, a sophomore, scored 14 points in the second half and added 10 rebounds for the Trojanettes.

Breen, who shares a similar skill set with Wise, said she enjoys the challenge of playing against the Vincentian standout.

“To play her makes me better,” Breen said. “She’s tall and she’s so quick. I need to work on my foot speed to be as quick as her. I look up at her in a way. She’s more of a guard and I want to be a guard like her some day when I get quicker.”

The win clinched the section title for Vincentian.

The only two section losses for Cardinal Wuerl came against the Royals. Rottman, though, is hoping for another crack at them in the playoffs.

“Hopefully we’ll see them a third time,” Rottman said.

VINCENTIAN ACADEMY 61

Brenna Wise 7-20 3-4 18, Lexi Griggs 1-3 0-0 2, Kiersten Elliott 6-12 0-0 14, Torrieonna Cash 5-11 3-8 13, Maria Joiner 2-12 0-1 4, Caroline Elliott 2-6 1-2 6, Marissa Muth 2-2 0-0 4, Sarah Marusic 0-2 0-0 0, Julie Galbraith 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 25-69 7-15 61.

CARDINAL WUERL 48

Evelyn Brazil 3-5 1-1 7, Abby Goetz 0-5 1-4 1, Mia Palmer 2-3 2-3 6, Sam Breen 7-18 5-7 19, Mary Casamassa 4-10 3-3 11, Kiki Palmer 0-5 2-2 2, Ashley Robbins 0-2 0-0 0. Totals: 16-48 14-20 48.

Vincentian 13 15 26 7 — 61

CW North Cath.9 11 10 18 — 48

3-point goals: Vincentian 4 (Wise, K. Elliott 2, C. Elliott); CWNC 2 (M. Palmer, Casamassa)

JV: Vincentian 55-45

Saturday: Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic vs. Fort Cherry at the Cancer Awareness Classic at Shady Side Academy