Baldwin girls basketball secured fifth place in WPIAL by defeating Indiana 41- 37 in their second seeding game for states on Tuesday night. 

The Highlanders went into the game feeling confident.

“We forced a lot of turnovers because (Indiana) could not handle the pressure,” senior Bella Niles said.

Due to a two-hour travel time to the away game, the Highlanders came in with a slow start, but found their stride after the first quarter, freshman Alia Bernotas said.

“We came out slower,” Bernotas said. “After the first quarter, we definitely got our flow together and played as a team.”

Senior Jules Ott scored 10 points and junior Lynsey Bernotas got 15 points, but it was a team effort.

“Lynsey passed the ball to Hannah (Prilla), and she had a really good post,” Bernotas said. “That is when we got a lead up by 10 points.”

Indiana did well at drawing fouls and played a scrappy game. Their shooting late in the game kept them alive, Niles said.

“They had a shooter that was really good at knocking her shots down,” Niles said.

Morale is high coming off the back-to-back seeding victories.

“Everyone is proud of each other’s successes, and we’re feeling confident,” Bernotas said. 

The girls will play their first state playoff game on March 6 against the second-seeded team.