SALISBURY — Lexington’s girls trailed Salisbury by 14 points midway through the third quarter, but Kahari Sanders and her teammates weren’t giving up.

The Yellow Jackets wiped out that daunting deficit and made clutch free throws to beat the Hornets 51-48 in a furious scrap between two evenly-matched Central Carolina Conference teams.

Sanders scored 21 for the Yellow Jackets (4-7, 1-1), while Emerson Hayes added 15.

Breya Philpot (13 points), Tyzarea Alexander (10) and Julia Honeycutt (10) paced the Hornets (2-14, 0-2).

Salisbury’s losing streak reached eight games despite a 14-0 run that spanned the second and third quarters. Maria Capito made a 3-pointer, and her three-point play late in the first half pushed Salisbury to a 27-19 lead at the break.

When the Hornets scored the first six points of the second half, they appeared in great shape, but that’s when Lexington’s press turned up the heat.

Philpot’s 12-foot jumpshot with 1 minute, 50 seconds remaining gave the Hornets their last lead at 46-44, but a spinning shot in the lane by Sanders tied it. Sanders made two free throws with 54 seconds left for a 48-46 Lexington lead. After a Salisbury turnover, Hayes knocked down two free throws with 18 seconds remaining for a four-point lead.

The Hornets had a chance to tie with less than 10 seconds left, but they couldn’t get off a 3-point attempt.

LEXINGTON  (51):  Sanders 21, Hayes 15,  Friday 5, Suoy 4, Vaughan 2, Ebison 2, Moore 2.

SALISBURY  (48): Philpot 13, Honeycutt 10, Alexander 10, Capito 8, Riche 4, Hightower 2, Wolfe 1, Caldwell, Jones.

Lexington             11    8     10      22     — 51

Salisbury               12    15    6      15   —    48