The Neshannock High girls basketball team is going into the state playoffs on an upswing.

The Lady Lancers edged Burrell 44-42 in a fifth-place PIAA Class AA qualifier Thursday night at Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic.

Neshannock (21-5) came back from a seven-point fourth-quarter deficit to gain the No. 5 seed out of the WPIAL. It will face the District 6 champion, Johnstown Bishop McCort.

The Lady Bucs (20-5) gain the WPIAL’s sixth seed and will face the loser of Saturday’s District 10 title game between West Middlesex and Harbor Creek. The PIAA playoffs begin March 4.

Burrell appeared to be in control with 5:10 to go, holding a 39-32 lead. But five consecutive points by the Lady Lancers’ Carmie Matarazzo closed the gap and a pair of steals and two baskets put Neshannock up. A 3-pointer by Eliza Oswalt returned the advantage to the Lady Bucs, but a basket by Bella Burrelli put the Lady Lancers up for good with 47 seconds left.

Matarazzo paced the Lady Lancers with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Regan Moorhouse held Burrell’s leading scorer Natalie Myers to 13 points, 12 in the second half.