SALISBURY — Senior Monifa Angle scored a career-best 25 points, a performance that went a long way toward breaking Salisbury’s five-game losing streak.
Angle had 11 points in a furious fourth quarter as the Hornets held off Carson 56-53.
“I’ve been pushing Monifa to carry this team on her back and she did that tonight in a great, back-and-forth game,” Salisbury coach Lakai Brice said. “She not only scored, she trusted her young teammates to score, and that was wonderful to see. We’re starting to get some team chemistry.”
Angle has been in double figures in five of Salisbury’s six games. This was her third outing in the 20s.
“I was usually able to drive the ball,” Angle said. “And when Carson’s other defenders committed to me, I was able to find my teammates for open shots. We played together as one.”
Alex Allen had another super all-round game for Carson. The junior had 19 points, 17 rebounds and six steals. She’s had 59 points in her last three games and has emerged as one of the county’s top players.
“Monifa was a tough matchup for them and Alex was a tough matchup for us,” Brice said. “Alex is tough in the post, but she can attack the basket from so far away that it’s hard to defend her with a post player.”
Senior guard Kate Cole had 16 points for the Cougars (1-4), including 12 in the second half. Sydney Huffman had a career-high nine points.
Angle got help from veteran Nyasia Harris’ 10 points and freshman Breya Philpot’s eight.
It was Salisbury (2-5) that got off to a fast start. Six Hornets, three of them freshmen, scored in the first quarter as the home team took a 21-14 lead.
“The tone was kind of set early,” Carson coach Brooke Misenheimer said. “We’re right on the brink of winning games, but we can’t wait until the second half to start playing. Early in the game, our defense was terrible and we just didn’t box out.”
The Hornets led 30-25 at the half.
Huffman’s “and-one” off a great look by Allen got the Cougars even at 38-all heading to the fourth quarter.
Angle gave the Hornets a 54-50 lead with a free throw with 30 seconds left, but Allen answered with a 3-ball.
Angle and freshman Juliana Anderson made key free throws, and the Cougars missed a layup to tie. Then Allen missed a rushed 28-footer just before the horn.
“We made enough shots to win,” Allen said. “But we didn’t play good enough defense to win.”

CARSON (53) — Allen 19, Cole 16, Huffman 9, Gray 4, Jackson 3, McClary 2, Clark, Hunsucker, VanVoorhis.
SALISBURY (56) — Angle 25, Harris 10, Philpot 8, Alexander 5, Anderson 5, Wolfe 3, Hightower, Charles.

Carson 14 11 13 15 — 53
Salisbury 21 9 8 18 — 56