GROVE CITY — Slippery Rock needed some separation from rival Grove City.

The two girls basketball teams were deadlocked at 31 entering the final quarter of Thursday's District 10, Region 5 contest.

Then Anna Kadlubek took over. The junior guard scored 11 points, including three treys, in the final eight minutes of a 45-37 victory on the Eagles' home floor.

“It seemed like every quarter, it was somebody different sparking us,” said Kadlubek. “The fourth quarter was my turn and I just went with it.

“I wasn't thinking much when I was shooting, but I felt confident.”

With the victory, Slippery Rock (12-6, 8-1) takes over sole possession of first place in the region standings. The Rockets have accounted for both losses suffered by Grove City (15-2, 7-2). Slippery Rock claimed a 55-45 decision over the Eagles last month.

“We know it's going to be a tough game every time we play them,” said Kadlubek. “We just work hard, keep a positive mind-set and get after it.”

Kadlubek broke the tie for good with a bucket 29 seconds into the fourth period, then sank 3-pointers with 5:58, 5:34 and 3:39 left on the clock. After her final trey, the Eagles were staring at a 42-32 deficit and never cut the lead to less than eight points the rest of the way.

“Anna's tough to guard, especially when we have Hallie (Raabe) setting ball screens,” said Slippery Rock coach Amber Osborn. “She didn't get some foul calls earlier in the game and was a little ticked off. I think she plays better when she's angry.”

Ella McDermott provided all of the scoring for the Rockets in the third with her eight points. Her 3-pointer gave Slippery Rock a 31-25 lead with 3:26 left in the period, but the Eagles answered and tied the game with Becca Santom's trey late in the quarter.

“Anna's 3-pointers in the fourth and Ella's run there in the third, those two stretches, that was the ballgame,” said Grove City coach Chris Burtch. “Give credit to them. They're big-time players and they stepped up.”

For the second time this season, Slippery Rock's defense frustrated the Eagles. In Thursday's game, Grove City scored 15 points in the first quarter, then a combined 22 the rest of the game.

“We actually don't match up well with them,” admitted Osborn. “We practiced a lot of defenses so we'd be ready and opened up the game with man-to-man.

“We ended up settling on a 2-3 zone because it seemed to be working best.”

Grove City turned the ball over seven times in the second period and the Rockets took a 23-20 lead into halftime.

Kadlubek led all scorers with 18 points while Raabe added 12 and McDermott 11 for the Rockets.

Clara Hannon drained three treys and scored 10 points to pace Grove City.

Slippery Rock junior guard Kelly Benson played with a broken nose suffered in a win at Franklin last week.

“Sometimes I get nervous about a game, I just do,” said Osborn. “Then a calmness comes over me because I know the toughness and grit our players have.”

Slippery Rock will look to put the finishing touches on a fourth straight region title beginning with Monday's game at Conneaut.

SLIPPERY ROCK 45

Ella McDermott 3 3-4 11, Hallie Raabe 5 2-3 12, Bronwyn McCoy 2 0-0 4, Anna Kadlubek 7 0-1 18, Kelly Benson 0 0-0 0, Gianna Bedel 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17 5-8 45.

GROVE CITY 37

Clara Hannon 3 1-2 10, Alli Lewis 1 0-0 2, Becca Santom 3 1-1 8, Emma Santom 4 0-0 8, Hannah Reiber 1 1-2 3, Katie McDowell 3 0-0 6, Kenzie Haggart 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15 3-5 37.

Slippery Rock 10 13 8 14 — 45

Grove City15 5 11 6 — 37

3-point goals: Slippery Rock 6 (Kadlubek 4, McDermott 2); Grove City 4 (Hannon 3, B. Santom).

Monday: Slippery Rock at Conneaut