Staff report

Carson’s girls played competitively for a half in a Thursday consolation game in the Sam Moir Christmas Classic, but East Rowan increased its defensive pressure in the third quarter and blew out the Cougars 63-32.

Sixth-seeded East (4-7) mauled Carson 21-4 in the third quarter after leading 27-17 at the break.

“At halftime, it was like, ‘Oh, maybe we need to start playing,’ and we stepped it up a whole lot,” East senior Rebecca Cooper said.

Haley Miller led the Mustangs with 14 points. Katelynne Poole, bouncing back from an ankle injury, contributed 10 points.

Ashley Collins had eight assists. Lisa Hill had seven rebounds.

“It’s nice to have games where everyone plays and everyone on the bench cheers for them to do well,” Cooper said. “Confidence goes up.”

East beat No. 7 Carson (0-10) for the third time and earned another tourney appearance. East plays No. 4 South Rowan today at noon.

Carson’s Mackenzie White had 10 points and five assists.

carson (32) — White 10, Curtindale 8, Lynn 4, Bell 4, Brown 3, Stewart 2, Hough 1, Settlemeyer, Whitley, Marshall, Cress, Howell.

east rowan (63) — Miller 14, Poole 10, Cress 7, Collins 7, Hill 5, Cooper 4, Vanderford 4, Smith 4, Barrier 2, K. Stout 2, S. Stout 2, Everhardt 2.

Carson 7 10 4 11 — 32

E. Rowan 14 13 21 15 — 63