FOX CHAPEL — The Butler girls basketball team got off to a dream start against Fox Chapel on Thursday.

Unfortunately, it turned into a nightmarish ending.

The Tornado raced to a 10-0 lead just 88 seconds into the game only to see the Foxes rally to tie the game at 12 at the end of the first quarter.

A Julie Ehrman 3-pointer with 23 seconds left in regulation helped Butler send the game into overtime, and an Ashley Nocera trey with 1:11 left in overtime gave Butler a one-point lead.

However, Lauren Cowher scored with 39 seconds left to give the Foxes the lead for good in a key 41-39 Section 3-AAAA victory.

"We started out like a house on fire," said Butler coach Dorothea Epps. "I think we kind of went away from (scoring outside) because we wanted to try and get inside a little."

Ehrman hit two 3-pointers around two baskets from Maria Baroffio to give Butler its 10-0 lead. The tornado did not make another trey until Ehrman's game-tying shot.

Five turnovers by Butler (13-6, 6-4) helped the Foxes (11-7, 6-4) to climb right back, going on a 12-2 run, including five points from Cowher, to even the score.

"Our kids responded well," said Fox Chapel coach Jeremy Bennett. "The kids were mentally ready. That was not the script we wanted to set, but the kids responded."

With the score tied at 16, a free throw by Elizabeth Schultz and consecutive scores by Amy Achesinski gave Butler a 21-16 lead with 1:43 left before the break.

Fox Chapel, however, went on a 13-0 run to surge to a 29-21 lead with 1:56 left in the third quarter. Catlyn Kriston scored five of those points, including a 3-pointer.

Butler responded by closing out the frame with six consecutive points, including a pair of free throws and a 3-point by Achesinski.

The Tornado eventually tied the game at 33, but a free throw by Erin Cooper and two by Cowher opened a 36-33 lead with 38.3 seconds left.

For the first time since the opening minute, Ehrman was left wide open and drained the 3-pointer to knot the game.

In overtime, Michelle Ritchey and Samantha Karns each missed the front end of a 1-and-1 before Kriston sank two free throws to give the Foxes a 38-36 lead.

Nocera hit a 3-pointer to give Butler back the lead, but Cowher's score shifted the one-point deficit back to Butler.

Fox Chapel's Carrie DeStout added a free throw with 21.5 seconds left before Ehrman's shot attempt went off the mark to end Butler's final chance.

"We've won four of our last five so hopefully we're starting to turn the corner," said Bennett.

The Tornado dropped four of their past six section games and will try to rebound against Shaler Monday.

"Let's hope we come out Monday," said Epps. "We're still in the playoff picture. We still control our own destiny. I don't know how much the kids want it. We have to go back out and get it."

Notes:

Cowher finished with 13 points and Kriston added 11 for Fox Chapel. Baroffio led Butler with 10 points, followed by Ehrman and Achesinski with nine apiece. … Achesinski fouled out with 2:17 left in regulation.

BUTLER 39

Ashley Nocera 0 0-0 0, Amy Achesinski 3 3-3 9, Maria Baroffio 4 1-3 10, Julie Ehrman 3 0-0 9, Samantha Karns 2 2-5 6, Michelle Ritchey 2 0-1 4, Elizabeth Schultz 0 1-2 1, Lyndsy Day 0 0-0 0, Abby Herrit 0 0-0 0, Rachel Barry 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14 7-14 39.

FOX CHAPEL 41

Veronica Badway 0 0-0 0, Erin Cooper 1 1-2 3, Lauren Cowher 5 3-5 13, Lindsay Cowher 0 1-2 1, Catlyn Kriston 4 2-2 11, Carrie DeStout 3 1-2 7, Caroline Heffernan 2 0-0 4, Bethany Thompson 1 0-1 2. Totals: 16 8-14 41.

3-point goals:

Ehrman 3, Baroffio; Kriston

JV:

Butler, 40-28

Monday:

Shaler at Butler