The Warren Lady Dragons went up against one of District 9’s top teams in St. Marys on Monday and came away with a hard-fought 40-35 victory.

The Lady Dutch (12-3), whose only other losses this season are to Hollidaysburg and Punxsutawney, took a brief lead in the third quarter, but Warren was able to take command late in the period and showed their toughness in the fourth quarter.

“It was back-and-forth in the third quarter,” said Warren coach Lisa LaVan. “We gave up the lead briefly in the third, but were able to hunker down, get the lead and hold on to it.”

The sophomore tandem of Emma Ruhlman and Riley Childress once again came up big for the Lady Dragons (10-5). Childress scored a game-high 15 points to go along with five assists, while Ruhlman had yet another double-double with 14 points and 13 boards.

Kaylee Muccio scored a team-high 13 points for St. Marys and had four in the third as the Dutch took that brief lead.

“They’re very quick and very athletic,” LaVan added.

Teagan Paris and Taylor Childress spent the first half in foul trouble for Warren, but Paris still managed to pull down seven rebounds.

Gracie Ruhlman connected on her lone make of the game in the fourth quarter, but it was a big one, a 3-pointer that helped the Lady Dragons build the lead.

“I thought the bench came in and gave some really good minutes,” LaVan said. “Carly (Beers), Ella (Ordiway), Cara Munksgard and Gracie (Gatto all played well.”

The Lady Dragons, winners of five of their last six games, look to remain hot when they host Corry in a Region 6 battle on Thursday.

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ST. MARYS (35)

Muccio 5-2-3-13, Eckert 0-0-0-0, Johnson 1-0-0-2, Shaw 0-0-0-0, Quesenberry 3-1-5-9, Schlimm 3-1-1-7, Chiappelli 0-0-0-0, Hayes 1-0-1-2, Caskey 1-0-1-2, Totals 14-3-9-35

WARREN (40)

T. Childress 0-0-0-0, C. Beers 2-0-1-4, R. Childress 6-2-4-15, E. Ruhlman 6-1-2-14, Gatto 0-0-0-0, Paris 2-0-2-4, Ordiway 0-0-0-0, G. Ruhlman 1-0-0-3, Munksgard 0-0-2-0, Totals 17-3-11-40

By Quarters

St. Marys 8 6 8 13 – 35

Warren 11 4 11 14 – 40

Three-point FGs: St. Marys (4) – Quesenberry 2, Schlimm, Muccio; Warren (3) – R. Childress, E. Ruhlman, G. Ruhlman