BUTLER TWP - Butler's dangerous duo became a dazzling duo Friday night.

Senior guard Kelly Miller scored 20 points, including three 3-pointers, and sophomore center Amy Achesinski contributed 18 points and a career-high 19 rebounds as the Golden Tornado girls basketball team defeated North Hills, 57-44.

"We've been waiting for this to happen," Butler coach Dorothea Epps said. "They're our two best players, but this was the first time both of them had big games on the same night."

North Hills (5-9, 1-5) whittled an early nine-point deficit to 25-24 by halftime and grabbed its only lead of the night when Catie Sieber sank a layup seconds into the third quarter.

Then Miller and Achesinski took over.

Miller assisted on a fast-break layup by Julie Ehrman to give Butler a 27-26 lead. Achesinski scored the game's next seven points on a three-point play, a layup and stick back of an offensive rebound.

Butler finished off a 14-0 run with another Ehrman layup in transition and had a 39-26 lead with 1:50 left in the quarter.

Miller's third trey of the night hiked the lead to 18 points before her steal and layup gave the Tornado their biggest lead of the night, 48-31, with 5:25 left.

"We let two girls beat us," North Hills coach George Vlassich said. "They didn't need anybody else."

Miller scored 10 of her 20 points in the fourth quarter. She added three steals to her totals and was perfect on all three of her 3-point shots.

Miller entered the game just 3-of-20 on 3-point shots this season.

"We need Kelly and Amy to step up and lead us," Epps said. "When they do that, the rest of the girls will follow."

Achesinski appeared to be headed for a rough night when she picked up two first-quarter fouls and went to the bench. She didn't pick up her third foul until late in the game.

"Amy's maturing," Epps said. "In the past, she'd get two early fouls and would back off. She's learning she can play with two fouls if she plays smart.

"This game was a big step for her."

North Hills stayed in the game early by sinking 10 of 12 free throws in the first half. The Indians missed all four of their foul shots in the second half.

Samantha Karns had seven rebounds for Butler, which held a 42-21 edge on the boards.

"We're a small team, but you have to be aggressive, get in there and go after the ball," Vlassich said. "Achesinski controlled everything underneath."

Katie Manjerovic led the Indians with 14 points and eight rebounds. Sieber added 13 points.

Butler (9-7, 3-3) had to win Friday to avoid a third section loss at home.

"We've been struggling at home, so this was big," Epps said. "Now we have to go into New Castle (Tuesday) and steal one like we did last year."

NORTH HILLS 44

Maura Wahl 1-5 0-0 2, Kenie Seibert 0-3 0-0 0, Jordan Zangaro 0-0 0-0 0, Staci Boretzky 2-3 0-0 5, Catie Sieber 5-8 2-5 13, Kristin Tedesco 1-4 0-0 2, Bethany Alabek 4-8 0-1 8, Katie Manjerovic 3-5 8-10 14. Totals: 16-36 10-16 44

BUTLER 57

Rachel Barry 0-1 0-0 0, Kelly Miller 7-13 3-4 20, Michelle Ritchey 0-0 1-2 1, Liz Schultz 2-6 0-0 4, Ashley Nocera 0-3 0-0 0, Amy Achesinski 6-11 6-9 18, Maria Baroffio 1-4 2-2 4, Julie Ehrman 2-9 1-2 5, Samantha Karns 2-4 1-2 5. Totals: 20-51 14-23 57

3-point goals:

Boretzky, Sieber; Miller 3

JV:

Butler, 40-14 (B-Baroffio 10)

Tuesday:

Butler @ New Castle