By Marny Hendrick

sports@salisburypost.com

SPENCER — The North Rowan girls did not have to stew long after suffering their first loss of the season Thursday night. The Cavaliers (4-1) bounced right back Friday night at home with a dominating rebounding effort in cruising past Harding University High School, 56-36.

Unofficially, the North girls out-rebounded Harding 38-15 , topped by junior Andrea Godfrey with 12 to go along with her 14 points. Aliyah Farmer led the scoring with 15 while also pulling down 8 boards.

“I am so proud of our rebounding this year,” said North coach Brian Lytton, “We have never been really good on the boards in the past but these girls are working really hard this season.”

Lytton was also impressed with his team’s defensive effort as they used a combination of full court pressure and a little zone missed in to force the Rams into a miserable shooting performance. The Rams had just pulled ahead of North 10-7 in the first quarter but for the next 11-plus minutes of game time they did not record a field goal. By then North was up 30-17 and pulling away. Farmer and Godfrey led a second half surge along with junior Brianna White who had 10. Special Washington fired in a couple of key three pointers as well.

“I think we played better against Harding the first time,” said Farmer. “We let them hang around too long tonight.” But she was glad the team bounced back from its first loss the night before against Charlotte Ardrey-Kell. “We came out tonight and played harder, worked together and got the win.”

Harding (2-4) had an unusual scoring effort in the game as all 36 points were scored by twin sisters Shareka McNeill (26) and Shameka McNeill (10), both junior guards.

HARDING  (36) — Shareka McNeill 26, Shameka McNeill 10, Caldwell, Russell, Morgan, Gaten.

NORTH ROWAN (56) — Farmer 15, Godfrey 14, White 10, Washington 8, Connor 4, Robinson 2, Lytton 2, Allen 1, Russell, Morrison, Sherrill, Shoaf.

Harding    10  4  11  11 — 36

N. Rowan   16  11  9  20 — 56