But Nadirah Tutler wouldn’t let them lose. Tutler converted a huge bucket-and-the-foul opportunity with 23 seconds remaining to give the Millionaires a 45-40 victory and secure a win for first-year coach Olivia Erb.

“It was definitely exciting. I know the girls were nervous, I think just first game jitters and all of that. We were just trying to keep our team chemistry and our energy up in here. Sometimes the gym is a little quiet. It was definitely good to get a win,” Erb said.

A victory seemed like a sure thing in the early going. After both teams got off to a slow shooting start, Ella Ballard got the scoring going nearly four minutes into the game with a banked-in three from the left corner. The lid came off the basket for the Millionaires at that point, especially for Nadirah Tutler.

After starting the game 0 for 5 from the floor, a strong take to the basket for a three-point play got her going, and another two points at the foul line gave her five points in the first quarter as Williamsport held Berwick without a bucket in the first quarter and led, 10-3.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Nadirah Tutler (24) shoots over Berwick's Carlli Post (10).

Setting the tone early on defense was part of the gameplan for Erb.

“We wanted to start in man-to-man, and just apply some pressure and definitely try to take it to them and set the tone,” Erb said.

That defensive intensity continued in the second frame. Berwick didn’t score from the field until nearly eleven minutes of action had passed, and the Millionaires turned defense into offense effectively in transition. Jaelynn Helmrich was a big beneficiary of that, scoring 10 of her 14 points in the second quarter, most of which in transition. That helped the Millionaires build a 17-point halftime lead, a lead that seemed pretty safe.

But a young Berwick team starting all five players sophomores or younger started to see the ball go through the net a few times early in the third and gained confidence quickly. They scored the first five points of the quarter, capped off by a three from freshman guard Abby Calarro. When Calarro hit another triple with just over two minutes remaining in the frame, Berwick had cut the halftime deficit in more than half, and had the game in single digits at 36-28.

Williamsport closed strong, though, and expanded the lead back to 39-29 heading to the fourth quarter.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Jaelynn Helmrich (14) shlots over Berwick's Ashlyn Zakrewsky (20).

But the Bulldogs wouldn’t go away. After Williamsport opened up the scoring in the final frame on a Helmrich layup, the Bulldogs went on a 10-0 run, capped by a shot from deep by another freshman guard in Carly Post to get them within 41-39 with 2:23 remaining in the game.

The Millionaires found a way. They held onto the ball for just under two minutes of game time, buoyed by clutch offensive rebounding. When Berwick started to try to trap to force a turnover with under 30 seconds remaining, they calmly found Tutler underneath.

She absorbed contact and laid it up and in. She made the ensuing foul shot, too, giving the Millionaires at 44-39 lead. When Berwick’s Grace Robbins split a pair of free throws with 13 seconds remaining, the MIllionaires controlled the rebound. A Khamya Moale foul shot extended their cushion, and they won 45-40.

The Millionaires are back in action on Friday on the road in State College against the Little Lions. They will return to State College again on Saturday for the second game of a two-game tournament.

BERWICK (40)

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Kinsley Cannode (4) picks off a pass in front of Berwick's Abby Calargo.

Abby Calarro 4 9-11 19, Carly Post 5 0-0 11, LIly Nespoli 1 0-2 3, Grace Robbins 2 2-6 6, Addie Zanoline 0 1-4 1, Ashlyn Zakruski 0 0-2 0. Totals 12 12-26 40.

WILLIAMSPORT (45)

Makayla Cerami 0 0-0 0, Kinsley Cannode 0 2-2 2, Ella Ballard 2 1-2 7, Jaylenn Helmrich 5 4-5 14, Nadirah Tutler 6 5-8 17, Khamya Moale 2 1-2 3, Isabella Campbell 0 2-4 2. Totals 14 15-23 45.

Berwick 3 10 6 11 — 40

Williamsport 10 20 9 6 — 45

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Kinsley Cannode (4) shoots a free throw in the first half.

3-point goals: Berwick 4 (Calarro 2, Post 1, Nespoli 1), Williamsport 2 (Ballard 2).

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Khamya Moate (30) shoots around Berwick's Lily Nespoli in the first quarter.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Nadirah Tutler (24) shoots around Berwick's (5) in the first quarter.