CHINA GROVE —Senior Alex Allen triggered a 13-3 run down the stretch Friday night to propel Carson to a 64-49 win over the visiting Salisbury girls. The Cougars’ center scored three baskets midway in the final quarter to turn a precarious 47-43 lead into a 60-46 margin with just under two minutes left.

Allen scored 18 points and freshman point guard Olivia Gabriel added 15 as Carson (2-3) snapped a two game skid. Salisbury (1-5) has lost three games in a row.

Allen and Gabriel also combined to hit 15 of 19 free throws to hold off the Hornets.

“It was not a pretty game,” Carson coach Brooke Misenheimer said. “It was more of a grind-it-out-and-find-a-way-to-win game. But we did some really good things in the fourth quarter to get the win.”

Taylor Wiggins was also in double figures for Carson with 11.

Salisbury stayed with the Cougars throughout the game until the decisive fourth quarter run. The Hornets trailed 30-29 at the half then actually took the lead twice in the third period.

Tyzarea Alexander with 13 points and guard Julia Honeycutt with 11 led the Hornets. Maria Capito added nine on three long bombs.

BOX SCORE

Salisbury (49): Alexander 13, Honeycutt 11, Capito 9, Philpott 8, Hillie 4, Wolfe 2, Hightower 2

Carson (64): Allen 18, Gabriel 15, Wiggins 11, Huffman 8, Shumaqker 4, Furr 3, Ketchie 3, McClaru 1, Roberson 1

Salisbury 13 16 10 10 — 49

Carson 13 17 15 19 — 64