The New Castle High girls basketball team picked up where it left off last year.

The Lady ’Canes opened the game on a 22-0 run and cruised to a convincing 66-24 victory over North Hills in the WPIAL Section 3-AAAA opener for both teams last night. New Castle is the three-time defending section champion.

New Castle is the defending WPIAL Class AAAA champion.

The Lady ’Canes (1-0 section, 3-0 overall) led 22-2 after one period and 31-16 at the break.

“It was a good start to section play,” Lady ’Canes coach Luann Grybowski said. “We really came out of the blocks well, then we went into our mode of having a big lead and slacking off.

“I’m pleased, I thought we played hard and well.”

Nikki Wise paced New Castle with 15 points, 10 rebounds and five steals. Abby Allen, Logan Hartman and Tasia Wise added 12 points each.

Hartman pulled down a game-high 15 rebounds, while Allen recorded seven steals and six assists.

The Lady ’Canes were 22 of 58 from the field and outrebounded the Lady Indians (0-1, 1-3), 44-22.

Both teams had trouble possessing the ball, with New Castle committing 20 turnovers and North Hills 24.