The Hornets, who were drubbed by 37 points the first time they faced undefeated Ledford (24-0, 14-0), finished off their regular season with a respectable 68-44 loss to the Panthers.

The Hornets trailed only 13-11 with 42 seconds left in the first quarter after a Kathryn Bauk bucket and were still down only nine points with three minutes left in the third quarter.

That’s the point at which Ledford star Leslie Hinkle had had enough. Hinkle hit two quick 3s and Ledford pulled away.

‘We played about as well we can play,” said Salisbury coach Jennifer Shoaf. “But you just know sooner or later Ledford’s gonna explode.”

Salisbury’s freshman sensation Shayla Fields matched Hinkle’s 26 points for game scoring honors.

Fields has averaged 19.3 points for a Hornet team that averages under 40. Fields’ 443 points this season are a freshman record at Salisbury. The slick guard has scored only 14 fewer points than the rest of her teammates combined.

The Hornets (6-16, 4-10) finished sixth and will travel to West Stokes for a 7 p.m. CCC Tournament first-rounder on Monday.

LEDFORD (68) — Hinkle 26, Hornsby 10, Ralls 8, Fitzgerald 7, Rogers 4, McCarthy 4, Pietsch 3, Motsinger 2, Taylor 2, Davis 2, Reece.

SALISBURY (44) — Fields 26, Charleston 4, Teamer 4, Edwards 4, Hanrahan 2, Bauk 2, Seay, Gillespie, Wingerson, Hawthorne.

Ledford 15 16 19 18 — 68

Salisbury 11 9 16 8 — 44