By Horace Billings

Salisbury Post

Angie Morton called it Catawba’s finest performance of the season.

The Indians coach watched Ne’Keithia Howard and Hillary Hampton score 15 points apiece as Catawba defeated

20th-ranked Carson-Newman 61-57 at Goodman Gym on Saturday.

Catawba (15-5, 5-3) jumped out to a 7-0 lead behind Hampton and Ingrid Easter before Carson-Newman tied things at 10. It was 23-all at halftime.

Catawba led by nine at

48-39 with 6:52 left. Carson-Newman (16-3, 6-2) closed the gap to four on two occasions but couldn’t catch up against the strong Catawba defense.

Howard fired in a basket and two free throws in the final 25 seconds to clinch the win.

“I am really proud of the way we played,” said Morton. “It was our best game of the season. We did a good job on both offense and defense.”

*

NOTES: Hampton, the former West Rowan star, hit 5 of 9 from the field, including three 3-pointers. Howard made 6 of 9 from the floor. … The Indians were 13-for-18 from the free throw line

CARSON-NEWMAN (57) — Tipton 12, Holbrook 12, Foster 7, Ledbetter 6, Burks 5, McDaniel 5, Buford 4, Kyle 4, Eggleston 2, Valentine, Drake.

Catawba (61) — Hampton 15, Howard 15, Easter 9, Foster 8, Higgins 7, Muldrow 3, Clark 2, Baxter 2, LoSauro, Bartlett, Columbo.

C-Newman 23 34 — 57

Catawba 23 38 — 61