WEST VIEW - The North Hills offense went cold, so the Indians froze the ball.

"We had to make them chase us, try to frustrate them and tire them out," said North Hills girls basketball coach George Vlassich said. "They were coming at us hard."

The strategy worked as the Indians snapped an eight-game losing streak Monday by holding off Butler, 56-53.

Butler's lone lead all night was 2-0, but North Hills (7-15, 2-11) never enjoyed a double-digit lead and watched a 45-37 advantage through three quarters quickly shrivel to 45-44.

Butler's Amy Achesinski sank two free throws, Maria Baroffio nailed a 3-pointer and Michelle Ritchey drove baseline for a layup to pull the Golden Tornado (10-13, 4-9) to within a point with 5:18 to play.

"All the momentum in the world was with us," Butler coach Dorothea Epps said.

But the Tornado had just three team fouls. And Vlassich instructed his team to keep the clock running.

North Hills controlled the ball for more than two minutes before Bethany Alabek got behind the backcourt pressure of the Tornado defense for an uncontested layup with 1:32 remaining.

Achesinski repeatedly put the pressure on North Hills to convert free throws. She sank a layup with 44 seconds left, two free throws with 31 seconds to go and put back an offensive rebound with 12 seconds on the clock.

But after each successful Butler possession, North Hills sank free throws. The Indians made eight of 11 from the line in the final 55 seconds.

"Our guards are excellent free throw shooters and we were going to put the game in their hands," Vlassich said.

After Maura Wahl hit one free throw to give North Hills a 54-50 lead, Baroffio connected for her fourth 3-pointer of the night with three seconds left.

Catie Sieber sank two free throws for the Indians with one second left before Achesinski got off a half-court shot at the buzzer that caromed off the front of the rim.

"They deserved this game," Epps said of North Hills. "We kept coming at them, but they kept stepping to the line and knocked them down."

The loss spoiled a stellar effort by Achesinski, who scored a career-high 29 points, recorded 14 rebounds, blocked five shots and tallied four assists.

Baroffio added 14 points for the Tornado.

"Maria hit some big shots," Epps said. "Amy was outstanding, but she can't do it by herself. We need to develop more offense around her."

Achesinski scored 47 points and grabbed 33 rebounds in two games against North Hills this season.

"That girl is such a force inside," Vlassich said. "We have no one to match up with her, so we collapse in and hope we can keep her under 20."

Butler had a 29-26 rebounding edge and had 14 turnovers to North Hills' 11. The Tornado lost for the sixth time in seven games.

Kenie Siebert paced four Indians in double figures with 13 points. Catie Sieber had 11 points and six rebounds.

North Hills sank 15 of 25 shots from the field in the first half, including three treys. The Indians sank just five of 17 shots in the second half.

"When we have a good night offensively, we have a bad night defensively," Epps said. "We haven't been able to put it together. But these are young girls. They'll be OK."

BUTLER 53

Rachel Barry 0-3 0-0 0, Karissa King 1-2 0-0 2, Jen Lesniewski 0-0 0-0 0, Liz Schultz 0-1 0-0 0, Ashley Nocera 1-5 0-0 2, Kelley Crater 0-0 0-0 0, Amy Achesinski 8-16 13-17 29, Maria Baroffio 5-14 0-0 14, Julie Ehrman 1-5 2-3 4, Michelle Ritchey 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 17-47 15-20 53

NORTH HILLS 56

Maura Wahl 2-4 6-8 11, Kenie Siebert 5-6 0-0 13, Staci Boretzky 2-5 1-2 5, Catie Sieber 3-11 5-6 11, Kristen Tedesco 1-3 0-0 2, Bethany Alabek 5-6 0-0 10, Katie Manjerovic 2-5 0-0 4. Totals: 20-42 12-16 56

3-point goals:

Baroffio 4; Wahl, K.Siebert 3

JV:

Butler, 36-31 (B-Abby Herrit 11, Julie Ehrman 10, NH-Erica Slagel 16)

Friday:

New Castle @ Butler