The Neshannock High girls basketball team has some breathing room in the WPIAL Section 1-3A standings.

The Lady Lancers used lockdown defense to top visiting Mohawk 41-30 and complete the season sweep of the Lady Warriors to take a two-game lead in the section.

Neshannock (8-0 section, 16-1 overall) led by just three points at the half with the score 21-18 after Mohawk (6-2, 11-3) closed the half by scoring the last four points. But the Lady Lancers responded defensively after the break, holding the Lady Warriors to just five points in the third quarter and seven in the fourth. Neshannock scored 10 points in each of the last two periods to seal the victory.

"The first half we didn't play as well as I thought we should've and we turned the ball over three times in the last minute," Neshannock coach Luann Grybowski said. "The second half we did a great job defensively of stopping penetration. We shot the ball better and really hit the boards. Coming into the game we didn't want to allow more than one scorer in double figures and they had nobody in double figures so we did a good job there."

Sophomore Bella Burrelli and junior Carmie Matarazzo led the way for the Lady Lancers. Burrelli posted a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Matarazzo came up just shy of one her own, finishing with 16 points and eight boards. Junior Hannah Haswell also chipped in with eight points and 10 rebounds.

Mohawk displayed balance offensively, as freshman Karly McCutcheon led the Lady Warriors with eight points and juniors Caitlin Carnuche and Carlee Stelter both finished with seven.

"(Mohawk coach) Mike (O'Lare) does a great job," Grybowski said. "He has some quick kids. They played all zone so they put a little more pressure on Aidan (Noga) tonight and it caused us to uncharacteristically turn it over. We looked a little robotic on offense and they picked off some passes.

"You're always going to get a good game from them," she added. "Mike makes sure they're always prepared and it's a rivalry game and I think we did a good job being prepared for that."