The New Castle High girls basketball team got back in the win column Thursday night.

Mariah Shepherd scored a team-high 13 points to lead the Lady ‘Canes to a 43-40 WPIAL Section 2-4A home win over Quaker Valley.

The win snapped a five-game losing streak for New Castle (2-5 section, 6-9 overall). The Lady ‘Canes dropped a 37-36 decision on the road in the first meeting against the Lady Quakers (2-5, 2-12).

“We played hard as a team,” said first-year New Castle coach Kara Joseph. “I told them if we defend and box out and take care of the ball we would be right there.

“Quaker Valley matches up with us pretty equally. If we believe in ourselves the game will be ours. I think we’re getting better every day.”

The Lady Quakers trailed 42-40 with 40 seconds left and missed a field goal. New Castle collected the rebound and Quaker Valley finally committed a foul with eight seconds to go. Kayla Harvey split a pair of free throws to put the Lady ‘Canes up 43-40.

Quaker Valley’s heave from beyond half court at the buzzer was off the mark and the hosts survived.

Shepherd pulled down eight rebounds as well. Kayla Harvey snared a team-best 15 rebounds to go with her seven markers. Lindsay Frabotta swatted six shots while tallying eight points. Tanai Brothers also tossed in seven points.

“Shepherd has been stepping up tremendously,”Joseph said. “You can just see every game she is getting more confident and getting to the hoop.

“I was really happy with her play and Tanai Brothers’ play tonight. They played really hard.