BUTLER TWP — Butler got exactly what it needed on defense in the second half.

The other end of the court was a different story.

After being gashed for 42 points in the first two periods by visiting North Allegheny, the Golden Tornado surrendered just 17 combined in the third and fourth.

Butler, however, was unable to take advantage, scoring just 15 points of their own in a 59-41 section loss to the Tigers.

NA shot just 23 percent (7 of 30) from the field in the final 16 minutes.

“Yeah, we took a step back in the second half,” said Tigers' coach Spencer Stefko, “but Butler gets some credit for that. They played better.”

The turnaround began with a change in strategy.

“We played zone in the second half, actually started it in the second quarter,” said Butler coach Mark Maier. “Boy, 7-of-30 shooting, that's what we needed.”

The Tigers (8-1, 5-1), who led by 16 at halftime, made just one of their first 10 field goal attempts in the third quarter, but still held a comfortable 44-28 edge at the mid-point of the period.

Butler's Sarayne Forbes completed a conventional 3-point play with 1:38 left in the quarter to cut the deficit to 46-34, but a pair of Butler turnovers in the final minute turned into five points from NA's Lizzy Groetsch.

“Even when we were playing well defensively, we struggled with rebounds,” said Maier. “There was one possession when NA had four or five offensive boards on one possession. They're going to score at some point with that.”

“Rebounding is tougher when you're in a zone because you don't have box-out responsibilities.”

The Tornado had one last chance to make a run when the Tigers didn't make a field goal for the first four minutes, five seconds of the final period, but Butler sputtered and Groetsch drained a trey to push the lead to 54-38. She finished with a game-high 22 points.

Butler shot just 30 percent (14 of 47) from the field in the game. Hailey Metzger paced the Tornado with 12 points.

Stefko is optimistic about what the rest of the season may hold for his team.

“We have individuals playing well on defense, but aren't connecting as a team,” he said. “We're a work in progress, but the mentality is there.

“We're starting six kids on a rotation and it takes a selfless team to do that.”

The loss was the fourth straight for Butler (5-6, 2-4).

“It's not a funeral procession. We have 11 games left,” said Maier. “I told the girls, nobody had a rougher schedule this week than we did. We played the top-ranked team in the WPIAL in Norwin (a 77-50 loss) and then NA, which is third.

“A lot of other teams in the section are going to lose to those two. We could have gained a lot tonight, but we didn't lose all that much.”

Butler visits Seneca Valley Monday for a critical section contest.

NORTH ALLEGHENY 59

Jasmine Timmerson 2 0-0 4, Lily Waskiewicz 0 1-2 1, Emma Fischer 2 1-2 7, Taylor Rawls 1 0-0 2, Abby Glass 1 0-0 3, Paige Morningstar 4 2-2 12, Lizzy Groetsch 9 2-2 22, Kat Balouris 4 0-0 8. Totals: 23 6-8 59.

BUTLER 41

Sarayne Forbes 3 2-3 8, Macklin Hanley 0 3-4 3, Ali Altman 2 0-0 5, Hailey Metzger 5 0-0 12, Makenna Maier 3 0-0 9, Aubree Tack 1 2-4 4, Piper Geibel 0 0-0 0, Anna Michalek 0 0-0 0, Elizabeth Friel 0 0-0 0, Emma Monteleone 0 0-0 0, Jordan Kauffman 0 0-0 0, Hannah Aldridge 0 0-0 0, Sarah Fiorina 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14 7-11 41.

North Allegheny 20 22 9 8 — 59

Butler9 17 8 7 — 41

3-point goals: North Allegheny 7 (Fischer 2, Morningstar 2, Groetsch 2, Glass); Butler 6 (Maier 3, Metzger 2, Altman).

Monday: Butler at Seneca Valley