The Lady ’Lopes advance to the state quarterfinals tonight after defeating WPIAL Class AA champ Jeannette on Tuesday. Pictured here, Molly Frew’s seven fourth quarter points helped the girls secure the win. Photos by Tom Steiner for The Citizen

By JIM RUMBLE

Heading into this past Tuesday's PIAA second round game, the Avonworth girls’ basketball team seemed to have their work cut out for themselves when they faced WPIAL class AA champion Jeannette at Hempfield High School.

After battling the Jayhawks for three quarters, and trailing by five points going into the final period, the 'Lopes put together a 13-0 run to start the fourth quarter that sent them on their way to an impressive come-from-behind win, 62-51.

"It was a great team effort, especially in the fourth quarter," said head coach Bob Schulz after the game.

The Lady Lopes, who were led by Tara Gallupe's 26 points, were able to overcome a huge offensive performance by Jeannete's Kayla Cook, a college Division I recruit who finished with 28 points.

"We came into the game with the intent of trying to stop her penetration inside," Schulz said of Cook, who connected on five baskets from beyond the arc.

"Our scouting report indicated that she wasn't that good from that range and that's how we handled her," Schulz said.

In the first quarter, Gallupe converted a three- point play as the 'Lopes worked through the Jayhawks’ full court defensive pressure to take an early 3-0 lead.

The lead would change four times on the way to a 9-9 tie. Consecutive baskets by Marissa Milbert and Natalie Zivic had Avonworth leading 13-9 with 1:10 left in the period.

The 'Lopes finished the quarter with a couple of turnovers that allowed Jeannette to take the lead when the period ended, 13-12.

Jeannette's Cook scored on a break to start the second quarter, puting the Jayhawks back in front. Avonworth answered with a pair of free throws by Gallupe to reclaim the lead at 15-14.

Cook then scored 7 points in an 11-4 run over the next minute and a half that put the Jayhawks in front 25-19.

The Lady Lopes responded with an 8-2 run, with Milbert connecting on two field goals and a pull-up jumper by Catherine Costa knotting the teams at 27-27 with 2:07 left in the quarter.

A basket by Gallupe came in a 6-2 Jeannette run when Costa knocked down a three-pointer at the buzzer to cut the Jayhawks' lead to 33-32 at the half.

Costa scored off a Jeannette turnover to put Avonworth back in front to start the third quarter, but the 'Lopes weren't able to capitalize on three more turnovers that followed.

They did take advantage, after trailing 38-36, when Costa hit on two free throws that came as a result of a technical foul against Jeannette to pull into a tie with just under four minutes left in the quarter.

Jeannette outscored Avonworth 7-2 while Gallupe went to the bench with her fourth foul and the 'Lopes behind 45-40 to end the third quarter.

Avonworth's Molly Frew got hot from the perimeter, knocking down three consecutive shots that included a three-pointer that seemed to energize the 'Lopes. They ripped through half of the final period with a 13-0 run to lead 53-45.

They then did a good job of running some time from the clock, being deliberate on offense while the Jayhawks were forced to foul.

The 'Lopes were able to offset any possible change as to the outcome of the game by outscoring Jeannette 9-6 down the stretch to seal the 62-51 victory.

After the game Schulz made note of the importance in this game of making early substitutions to keep his players from wearing down.

"This is the first time this year that we were able to come from behind and win," the coach noted.

Gallupe's 26 points were followed by Costa with 12, Frew with 7, Milbert and Lauren Mayernik with 6 and Zivic with 5.

Avonworth had advanced to this game by defeating Greenville in a first round game on Friday, March 12, 49-44.

The 'Lopes, who led by 13 going into the fourth quarter, were able to withstand a late charge by the Trojans, who had trimmed the lead to 2 points with 1:15 remaining.

"Our kids hung together and kept their composure at the end," Schulz said.

Gallupe led Avonworth with 16 points, followed by Zivic with 11, Costa with 10 and Mayernik with 6.

The Lady Lopes (24-2) are scheduled to play South Fayette (19-7) in a PIAA quarterfinal game at North Allegheny today at 6 p.m.