Top-ranked Norwin slogged through a two-point third quarter — an uncharacteristically empty output on its home floor — and fell behind by 16 going to the fourth.
Somehow, it stemmed the tide of a lengthy run by No. 3 Canon-McMillan, closing a 17-point gap to four late before fading for a 44-37 loss in a first-place showdown Monday night in Section 2-6A girls basketball.
Canon-McMillan (16-4, 8-1) built enough equity during a 16-0 run in the third — 17-2 for the quarter — to hold back Norwin (15-4, 7-2) and clinch at least a share of its first section title since 2015-16, its only other section banner.
The Big Macs can take the championship outright Thursday with a win over Connellsville.
The Lady Knights have won three straight section titles but will need help to get a fourth. Norwin has to beat Hempfield and hope Canon-McMillan loses to have a chance at a co-title.
A desolate third quarter was their undoing.
“Give (Canon-McMillan) credit,” Norwin coach Brian Brozeski said. “From the defensive side, they made it difficult for us to get any threatening movements. We got stagnant. They have good size and strength. We weren’t able to crack that code.”
But they almost did.
Norwin went on a 13-3 surge in the fourth and crept to within 41-37 with 59 seconds remaining on a layup by freshman Giuliana Giannikas off a steal by junior Liz Yarosik.
But the Big Macs, who relied on a team defense throughout the game, kept the Knights off the board from there to seal the win.
Norwin went from scoring 18 in the first half to two in the third quarter, to 17 in a big fourth.
Sophomore Aubrey Graney hit two 3s and scored all eight of her points in the fourth for Norwin.
“I was scared,” Canon-McMillan coach John Fontana said. “I was doing everything I could to calm our girls down.
“It took us three years to get here,” Fontana said of the section crown. “I told them from the beginning: dream big. Norwin has such a great team. Brian is one of the best coaches in the history of the game.”
Senior Madison Clair scored a game-high 17 points for the Big Macs, including 8 of 10 free throws. Her team shot 6 for 12 from the line in the fourth.
“I just wanted us to make some free throws,” Fontana said.
Junior Faye Saunders had 12 of her 14 points in the first half, including a pair of 3s, as Canon-McMillan built a 19-18 edge at halftime.
“She is one of the hardest workers on the team,” Fontana said.
Senior Lauren Borella sat for about six minutes with two fouls for the Big Macs. The West Liberty commit saw her teammates pick up the slack, though, even with Norwin clawing back.
Sophomore Brooke Stanton hit a 3 to open the third, and Borella made a pair of post moves under the basket to stretch the lead to 32-18.
After senior Kylie Rodkey made a layup to crack a near-eight-minute scoring drought for Norwin, Clair drove in and finished with her left hand to make it 36-20 after three quarters.
As Canon-McMillan hit the gas quickly on possessions when Fontana would have preferred using clock — and missed free throws — Norwin took advantage.
Graney’s bookend 3s wrapped around a floater from Giannikas and a three-point play by Yarosik to get Norwin within 39-33 with 2:18 left.
Yarosik led Norwin with 10 points.
“(Canon-McMillan) has a special (senior) group,” Brozeski said. “It reminds me of the group we had two years ago. They play within themselves.”
Norwin won the first matchup 56-52 using 3-point shooting to forge ahead in the fourth.
This time, the Lady Knights hit seven 3s but couldn’t rally all the way back.
“It comes down to so many plays,” Brozeski said. “I am proud of the way our girls fought.”
The win allows Canon-McMillan to put its hat in the ring for the top seed in the WPIAL playoffs, something most figured would go to Norwin.
“We deserve (No. 1) as much as anyone,” Fontana said.