It took overcoming an early 7-0 deficit and an 18-10 deficit in the second quarter, but the Plum girls basketball team was up to the task as the Mustangs rolled past Franklin Regional, 63-45, in a Section 1-5A matchup Thursday.

“It was a great effort by the girls tonight,” Plum coach Rich Mull said. “We could’ve gotten down and felt bad for ourselves, but they understand how much we have to play for right now.”

Ahead 12-10 after the first quarter, the Panthers used a 6-0 run to push the margin to 18-10. A timeout off a steal by Franklin Regional flipped a switch in the Mustangs.

For the final six minutes of the second quarter, Plum outscored the Panthers, 18-2, to lead 28-20 at the break. The run reached 39-9 thanks to a 21-7 third quarter that favored the Mustangs, essentially putting the game out of reach.

The 3-point shot played a huge factor for Plum, as it hit eight on the night, including seven in the first half, changing the dynamic of the game.

“It’s not necessarily planned that way with the 3-point shot,” Mull said. “When they are dropping, it opens a lot more up, and that’s what happened for us in the second half.”

Riley Stephans was the author of five of those eight 3-pointers, hitting four in the first half to score 14 at the break and then adding her fifth in a 15-point second half. She finished with 29 points and six rebounds.

“Riley has shown signs and flashes of brilliance since she started for us her freshman year,” Mull said. “She’s gotten better and better every year, but this year she is healthier and more determined.”

Though Stephans carried the scoring load, it was junior guard Tamia West who put together a dazzling performance. West finished with a stat line of 17 points, 18 rebounds, seven assists, three steals and two blocks.

“Wow,” Mull said. “She is just all over the floor. It’s not something that you teach practicing. It’s just there, and she has it.”

The victory lifts Plum to 11-3 overall and 6-1 in Section 1-5A with a matchup Tuesday at Armstrong.

“The big thing is, with all levels of our programs, is consistency,” Mull said. “We need to do the little things well over and over and get, keep getting better at them and do the right things the right way time and time again.”

Franklin Regional fell to 6-8 overall and 3-4 in Section 1 and will face Penn Hills on Monday.