Double wammy
Butler girls overwhelm NA with offense, defense

---

By Derek Pyda
Eagle Staff Writer

WEXFORD — Offense and defense have played key roles in the Butler girls basketball team's perfect section record.
On Monday night, they took turns in the spotlight.
The Golden Tornado held North Allegheny scoreless for the first 7 minutes and 30 seconds of the opening quarter and led 11-2 at the end of the period.
That's when the offense took off.
Butler (16-1, 10-0) scored 20 points in the second quarter before running away with a 70-49 Section 3-AAAA road win.
Junior Olivia Bresnahan led the Tornado with a career-high 32 points, while senior Jenna Manuel added 16.
But it all started with a great defensive effort early in the game.
Before NA's Andrea Elmore got her team on the board with a basket with 30 seconds left in the first quarter, the Tigers missed 11 consecutive shots from the floor and committed seven turnovers.
"Defensively, we came out ready to go," said Butler coach Dorothea Epps. "NA couldn't get in the offense they wanted and we got points in transition."
"Coach gives us the game plan and she's always talking about getting teams right at the beginning so it won't be a tight game at the end," said Bresnahan. "And if somebody does make a mistake, we pick each other up. There's no negativity on this team."
The Tigers (10-8, 6-3) were looking to avenge a 51-34 loss to Butler Dec. 23, but the early deficit proved too much to overcome.
The Tigers trailed 31-19 at halftime and turned the ball over 23 times in the game.
"We knew we had to cut down on the turnovers, but Butler's defense is relentless," said NA coach Sherri McConnell. "They were able to take us out of what we were trying to do."
"We feed off our defense," said Epps. "And we can put up points really quick."
Butler made 25 of 28 free throws, including 14-of-15 by Bresnahan, all coming in the second half.
"(Assistant coach Aaron Epps) tells me that if I miss a free throw, don't change the way I'm shooting, just keep the same form," said Bresnahan.
The Tigers shot just 16-of-55 from the field in the game (29 percent), but did finish with three players in double digits — Alexis Aiken (11 points), Julie Figan and Alysia Libby (both with 10).

BUTLER 70
Casey Fleeger 1 0-0 3, Katresa Savisky 2 0-0 4, Olivia Bresnahan 9 14-15 32, Amanda Dymun 1 4-4 6, Casie Cygan 3 2-3 8, Rachel Doutt 0 1-2 1, Jenna Manuel 6 4-4 16, Emily Wise 0 0-0 0, Ali Sedwick 0 0-0 0. Totals: 22 25-28 70.
NORTH ALLEGHENY 49
Julie Figan 3 2-2 10, Alexis Aiken 4 3-4 11, Kelly Brennan 1 3-5 5, Andrea Elmore 3 1-3 7, Alysia Libby 3 3-3 10, Dawn Murphy 1 1-2 3, Zoe Calabrese 1 1-2 3, Chandler Caufield 0 0-0 0, Leslie Barksdale 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16 14-21 49.

Butler 11 20 15 24—70
North Allegheny 2 17 11 19—49
3-point goals: Butler (Fleeger); North Allegheny 3 (Figan 2, Libby).