SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — When told that his team had committed 25 turnovers Tuesday night, Slippery Rock girls basketball coach John Tabisz replied, “That’s very generous. It seemed like a lot more than that.”

That’s because Seneca Valley’s defense contested so many passes in the championship game of Slippery Rock’s Winter Blast Tournament. Even the passes that did not end up as turnovers were often deflected. The Raiders’ 3-2 zone defense caused havoc with the Rocket offense the entire game and sparked Seneca’s 45-27 victory.

SV totaled 17 steals in the game, led by Paige Montrose’s five thefts.

“We’re playing much better defense now than we were at the start of the season,” said Raider coach Rob Lombardo. “We have so many players on the team who played a fall sport, the girls are just now getting into what we are trying to do. We stick our tall girls at the top of the zone and that makes it tough for teams to make a bounce pass inside. Our guards play down low and they are quick enough to disrupt things.”

It sounds simple enough, but strategy and execution are two different things. Unfortunately for Slippery Rock, the Raiders carried out their duties to near perfection on this night.

Seneca Valley made things even more difficult on the Rockets (5-3) by jumping out to an early lead. Montrose scored eight of her game-high 19 points in the first quarter, which ended with the Raiders holding a 19-11 lead. Slippery Rock turned the ball over nine times in the period.

“We knew they were going to come at us with that zone,” Tabisz said, “but we couldn’t find the openings. When we did, we didn’t make the passes and never got into a rhythm. It’s a tribute to Seneca, but it also shows us what we need to work on. The effort was there, and that is all I can ask for.”

The Raiders were at times frustrated offensively. They scored just one field goal in the second quarter.

“We did not do horribly on defense,” added Tabisz, “but when you come down the floor that many times and don’t score, it makes it very tough.”

SV’s lead swelled to 32-13 early in the second half. The Rockets received a pair of 3-pointers — from Marissa Siebka and Elena McDermott — to cut their deficit to 13 points, but Slippery Rock made just three field goals the rest of the game.

Montrose was named Tournament MVP, while Erin Danik, who scored 14 points, was named to the All-Tournament Team along with Slippery Rock’s Bailey Boyd.

“Paige is at her best in transition,” said Lombardo. “She’s bigger (5-foot-11) than a lot of the girls (guarding) her. She’s athletic and can finish.

“We are halfway through the season and we’re 9-2,” he added. “I can live with that.”

SENECA VALLEY 45

Michaela Lamont 1 0-0 2, Brooke Lyczek 1 2-2 5, McKenna Gross 1 2-2 5, Paige Montrose 6 7-11 19, Erin Danik 6 1-2 14, Carolyn Palaski 0 0-0 0, Lexus Lambert 0 0-0 0, Toni Augustine 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15 12-17 45.

SLIPPERY ROCK 27

Elena McDermott 1 2-2 5, Marissa Siebka 2 0-0 5, Lilly Weitzel 1 0-0 2, Bailey Boyd 1 0-0 2, Macy McCall 1 0-0 2, Emma McDermott 1 0-0 2, Steph Croll 0 1-2 1, Sedona Campbell 3 2-2 8, Jenna Heitzenrater 0 0-0 0. Totals: 10 5-6 27.

Seneca Valley 19 8 10 8 — 45

Slippery Rock11 2 10 4 — 27

3-point goals: Slippery Rock 2 (El. McDermott, Siebka); Seneca Valley 3 (Lyczek, Gross, Danik).

Monday: Seneca Valley at Pine-Richland

Tuesday: Slippery Rock vs. Bishop Canevin at Slippery Rock University