First-year Emmaus girls basketball coach Avon Mack has emphasized defense since he took over the program last summer.

It was the Hornets’ defense that helped them overcome an early Bethlehem Catholic lead in last week’s East Penn Conference title game and cruise to a 59-37 win, marking the team’s first league title since 2007.

“They deserve it,” Mack said of his team. “They came in from Day 1 and I demanded us to play defense. We never played zone one time all season. It forced them to be accountable for who they are guarding. They took on the challenge and it paid off for us.”

Emmaus led early, but the Hawks brought 6-foot-2 sophomore Mikaila Brooks off the bench and helped erase her team’s early 7-0 deficit. Brooks scored six points in just over a minute of game time, then didn’t score the rest of the game.

“Our back side defense wasn’t where it was supposed to be,” said Mack. “As soon as we got that settled down we were able to put a couple stops together, and score as well. It just speaks to how hard these ladies work day in and day out and being able to adjust on the fly. We adjusted and we got a win.”

The Hawks held the lead briefly in the first quarter and early in the second before the Hornets took over for good on a Gabby DeVita three-pointer with 6:25 left in the first half. Emmaus pulled out to a 29-20 lead at halftime.

“Going into half we were up by nine,” said DeVita, who scored a game-high 20 points and was named EPC Tournament MVP. “We just knew we had to come out strong and push it and run, keep playing strong on defense and keep playing as a team.”

The Hawks cut the Hornet lead to 34-29 before Emmaus ended the third quarter with a 14-2 run to extend its lead. DeVita and Emma Snyder (15 points) made three-pointers during the run, while freshman Gracie Ervin also made a pair of baskets to help her team take a 48-31 lead after three quarters.

The Hornet defense didn’t let up in the fourth quarter, allowing just six points and forcing five turnovers in the period and 10 in the second half.

The game was the team’s fifth at the PPL Center over the past three seasons as Emmaus made the league semifinals in each of the past three years while reaching the title game each of the past two seasons.

“Being able to come here the past two years helped us win tonight,” said DeVita. “Knowing what it’s like to play here, it’s way bigger than a regular gym. Just getting the depth perception and the crowd, it’s different.”

The win is the 21st in a row for Emmaus (24-1), which will head into districts as the top seed with a quarterfinal matchup against No. 8 Northampton (10-12) Friday.

“We have to stay humble even though we’ve been winning,” said DeVita. “We take it step by step and day by day. Every new game is a fresh start. We’re just going to play the best we can, remember that we have these wins, but we’re going to keep pushing.”