Neshannock started slow and never recovered in a nonsection loss to Sharon.

The Lady Lancers trailed 25-5 after the first quarter and 46-17 at the break.

“(Sharon) just didn’t miss,” Neshannock Luann Grybowski said. “We played man, we played zone, we did a little of everything.

“We played a little intimidated in the first half, but we did much better in the second half and I’m happy with that.”

Ericka Warvell paced the Lady Lancers (13-7) with 14 points and five rebounds, while Chelsea Kauffman tallied 13 points and five assists. Ashlee Patton tossed in 12 points for Neshannock, which was 19 of 53 from the field.

Brittany Benedetto led all scorers with 30 points for the Lady Tigers. She notched 22 of her markers in the first half.

The loss is the third straight and fifth in the last six games for Neshannock.

“We’re not where we want to be as the playoffs get closer,” Grybowski said. “We want to be playing better.

“It’s a combination of not only what we’re doing, but how other teams are playing us. We have to find a way to get through it.”

Neshannock, which has already clinched a WPIAL Class AA playoff berth, can secure third place outright with wins today at Mohawk and Thursday at home against Laurel in it’s final two games.

New Brighton (6-5, 7-11), which also is in the playoffs, is a half-game behind the Lady Lancers.