CHINA GROVE — Needing to shake a pesky Carson side Wednesday night, Salisbury turned to senior Monifa Angle.
Angle scored 11 of her game-high 18 points – including 7-of-8 free throws – in the fourth quarter to lead the Lady Hornets to their third-straight win, 60-47.
“I think we came together as a team,” Salisbury head coach Lakai Brice said. “We shared the ball and moved the ball the best we have all season and got some open looks.”
“I’m excited with how they came out here and played. We never gave up, so that’s showing some maturity in our team.”
With Carson hanging around at the end of three, the Hornets began to pull away.
Nyasia Harris hit a runner to open the final frame before Tyzarea Alexander drove to the hoop for two more.
But the big blow came from Katy Wolfe, who spotted up from the right side and drained a three to push the lead out to 45-37.
Angle then took over, hitting back-to-back layups before going to the foul line on three straight trips down the floor, converting all six shots to seal the hard-fought 60-47 victory.
“It was hard, but we had to work together,” Angle said. “We pulled through.
“I know our team is young, but they’re starting to come out of their shell now.”
The Hornets are surging at the right time with the Sam Moir Christmas Classic just a week away.
“This is huge for our team considering that we’re a young team,” Brice added. “Winning these three games heading into the tournament will give us some confidence.
“I think right now they’re understanding the system and playing together as a team – our chemistry is really starting to mesh right now,” she continued. “Hopefully winning these three games will help us in the tournament knowing that we can play with these teams in the county.”
Meanwhile for Carson, head coach Brooke Misenheimer blamed the loss on a lack of focus.
“It was just ugly. Period,” she said. “I think we were lifeless from start to finish. When we walked in the gym today, we weren’t focused, and it showed in the game.
“Despite how terrible we were all night long, it was just a four-point game in the fourth quarter,” Misenheimer added. “But we could not muster up enough energy to do anything. We never could get to where we could capitalize. I felt like we just didn’t have the will to do things right.”
Sydney Huffman scored a career-high 15 points to lead Carson, while Alex Allen added 14.
Wolfe and Alexander joined Angle in double-figures with 10 points for Salisbury, while Harris finished with nine.
The Cougars, now 2-5 on the year, will hit the floor Friday night on the road against Concord before the Christmas Tournament next week.
Salisbury, now 4-5, awaits the seedings for the tourney.

SALISBURY (60) — Angle 18, Wolfe 10, Alexander 10, Harris 9, Anderson 6, Philpot 4, Charles 3, Robinson, Hightower
CARSON (47) — Huffman 15, Allen 14, Cole 7, Gray 6, Clark 4, Roberson 1, McClary, Van Voorhis, Hunsucker, Jackson
Salisbury 9 14 12 23 — 60
Carson 6 13 14 14 — 47