KANNAPOLIS — South Rowan guard Sylvetta Bost had just started to push the ball up the floor with the Raiders down by three points in the closing seconds — but suddenly the ball was gone.

A.L. Brown’s Aitana Grant was the culprit. Grant’s sudden steal and layup sealed Wednesday’s  42-37 victory by the Wonders in a physical struggle between two weary teams that played tough league contests 24 hours earlier.

A 3-pointer by Avery Locklear pulled South Rowan (15-6) within a single  point at 38-37 with  2:30 remaining.

The Raiders had shots for the lead but couldn’t convert, and Kyla Downs made a fine bounce pass to teammate Mariah Howard for the layup that gave the Wonders a 40-37 lead.

South Rowan still could’ve tied with a 3-pointer, but  Grant made her steal for the clincher.

Only four Raiders scored. Locklear had 16. Cassidy Chipman scored nine, all in the first half. Malaysia Williams scored seven, and Sylvetta Bost had five.

Grant led the Wonders with 13 and got help from Downs (eight), Shemya  Stanback (seven) and Talethia Alexander, who made two 3-pointers.

One of her  3s came late in the first half and provided the Wonders with a 32-31 halftime lead.

A.L. Brown (13-6) swept the season series and ended the Raiders’ six-game winning streak.

• Locklear scored 25, Chipman had 14, and Bost scored 12 as South Rowan beat Central Cabarrus 60-46 on Tuesday to stay tied for first in the SPC.

SOUTH (37)

Locklear 16, Chipman 9, Williams 7, Bost 5, Hubbard, Martin, McClendon.

A.L. BROWN  (42)

Grant 13, Downs 8, Stanback 7, Alexander 6, Howard 4, Kituku 2, McCoy 2.

South            10  11  10   6   —37   

A.L. Brown   10  13   9   10 — 42