Football isn’t the only program making huge strides at Ellwood City Lincoln.

The girls basketball team won a WPIAL Section 2-AAA game for the second time in 97 tries, beating Central Valley, 52-35, last night.

The game was tied entering fourth quarter, but that’s when the Lady Wolverines (1-3 section, 6-5 overall) dominated. They outscored Central Valley (0-3, 3-7), 23-6, in the fourth, led by point guard Allison Marshall, who hit all three of her 3-pointers.

“I challenged her at halftime,” Ellwood City coach Bill Gottuso said. “I said, ‘Everyone else is playing well, you need to be a senior leader.’ I told her to step it up, and she only had one turnover in the second half and played really well on both sides of the ball.”

Marshall scored all 11 of her points in the second half, added seven assists and paced Ellwood City during a 14-0 fourth-quarter run. The Lady Wolverines snapped a 91-game section losing streak last year against Center, which consolidated with Monaca to form Central Valley.

Michelle Nocera also recorded 11 points for Ellwood City. No Central Valley players scored in double figures.

“We worked too hard and came too far to let this one go on our home court,” Gottuso said. “We haven’t had too many chances in our section and the girls wanted this one. We’re 6-5 now, and I can’t remember the last time we were over .500 this late in the season.”