Neshannock High failed to carry over the performance from the first quarter yesterday and it proved costly.

The Lady Lancers netted 13 points in the first frame, but just 22 more the rest of the way in a 66-35 girls basketball loss to Lowellville (Ohio) in the first round of the Penn State-Beaver Christmas Tournament. The game was played at Penn State-Beaver.

Neshannock (1-6) trailed just 15-13 after the first quarter and 29-20 at the break.

“We had a chance to cut it three times to three points. We got it to five and we would turn it over,” Lady Lancers coach Luann Grybowski said. “We just had poor decision making.

“In the second half, they were doubling the ball and we struggled.”

Madison McHale paced Neshannock with 11 points and Marissa DeMatteo was next with nine.

Alexandra Fischer, Madison Shaffer, Erin Warvell and Tayler Grybowski all pulled down three rebounds apiece for the Lady Lancers. Tayler is the coach’s daughter.

Katie Burrelli recorded four steals to lead Neshannock.

The Lady Lancers were just 14 of 57 from the field, compared to 25 of 60 for the Lady Rockets.

Emily Carlson tossed in a game-high 15 points for Lowellville.

The Lady Rockets (6-0) outscored the Lady Lancers in the second half, 37-15.

Lowellville won the battle of the boards, 23-17. Neshannock turned the ball over 25 times, while the Lady Rockets committed 14.

“This was by far the worst game of the year for us,” Luann Grybowski said. “We definitely took a couple of steps backward.

“We didn’t take care of the ball. We didn’t make good decisions. We committed too many turnovers and we played sluggish. Part of it I think is because of the Christmas break. But Lowellville is a very good, senior-oriented team and you could tell.”

The loss is the third of the year by 27 or more points for the Lady Lancers.

Neshannock will meet South Side Beaver at 2 p.m. tomorrow in the tournament. The Lady Rams lost to Vincentian Academy yesterday, 75-27.